The CLAIM Act updates the hardrock mining claim maintenance fees that miners must pay to the federal government, replacing the current $100 annual fee with a sliding scale ranging from $300 to $1,100 per claim depending on proximity to protected areas like national parks and monuments. The bill affects hardrock miners—those extracting minerals like gold, silver, and copper on federal land—with a key exemption for "small miners" who hold ten or fewer claims, operate on no more than 200 acres, and earn less than $50,000 annually in mineral income. The bill establishes that maintenance fees collected will fund the administration of mining laws, with any excess revenue split among conservation programs, tribal historic preservation, states based on their mining claim concentrations, and public land restoration efforts. The Secretary of the Interior will adjust fees every five years for inflation and must notify claimants by July 1 of changes taking effect the following year. Overall, the legislation aims to increase revenue from mining operations while discouraging claims in environmentally sensitive areas near national parks and monuments.
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