The House Natural Resources Committee will mark up eight bills Wednesday, including legislation that could accelerate mining and related activities on public lands.
The committee is slated to take up an amended version of Rep. Pete Stauber’s (R-Minn.) H.R. 4090, which would codify certain presidential orders on mining and mineral development. The measure would authorize federal agencies to fast-track certain “priority” mining projects and exploration on federal land.
The committee will also debate an amended version of H.R. 1366, the “Mining Regulatory Clarity Act,” which would allow a company to establish mining claims for lands where it deposits waste. The bill would address a court ruling opposed by the industry and has some Democratic support.
A top Interior official told House lawmakers last week that the Trump administration supports the bills, while Democrats argued the language would scrap commonsense guardrails, cut out public input and enrich international mining conglomerates.
