The Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025 overhauls federal hardrock mining regulation by closing all federal lands to new mining claims effective immediately, while requiring existing claims to convert to federal leases within 3 to 10 years or face daily fees of $100 per acre. The bill establishes a comprehensive permitting system requiring miners to obtain federal permits and demonstrate that operations won't cause unnecessary environmental degradation, with mandatory royalty payments of 8–12.5% of mineral value, strict operational and reclamation standards, and concurrent reclamation work during mining activities. The legislation affects hardrock miners (defined to exclude small operators with 10 or fewer claims under 200 acres), creates an Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation Program funded by 75% of collected royalties while directing 25% to host states, and grants federal land agencies broad investigative powers and allows citizens to sue for permit violations. The Act takes effect immediately upon enactment, with administrative fees capped at actual costs and adjusted for inflation every three years.
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