Legislation & Regulation
Annual Claim Fees Due September 3, 2013
August 2013 by Scott Harn
Because September 1 falls on a Sunday this year, and Monday, September 2, is a holiday, the BLM will accept yearly filings through September 3.
The BLM last year issued a rule that changes the way maintenance fees for placer mining claims are assessed. The rule implements the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 (FY 2012 Act), which requires the BLM to collect maintenance fees for placer mining claims based on the total acreage contained in the claim, rather than by the claim.
Claimants will now pay the maintenance fee (currently $140) for every 20 acres or portion thereof, contained in the placer mining claim. For example, if a placer mining claim consists of 46 acres, the claimants will pay $420 for the maintenance fee—$140 for each 20-acre portion of the placer mining claim and another $140 for the remaining 6 acres.
The maintenance fee for other types of claims—lode claims, mill sites and tunnel sites—continues to be $140 per claim or site. At the direction of Congress, the maintenance fee has been adjusted twice since 1993—it was raised to $125 in 2004 and to $140 in 2009.
Each payment must be accompanied by a written list of the claim name(s) and BLM serial number(s) (CAMC numbers) for which the maintenance fee is being paid. Filings made by mail need to be postmarked on or before September 3, 2013.
Miners who file the 2014 Small Miner’s Waiver will be required to file an Affidavit of Assessment Work (Proof of Labor) Form, including the $10 processing fee per CAMC number on or before December 30, 2013.
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Idaho maintains control
• Enough wilderness already
• Restraining the EPA
• Republicans on the attack
• DOI requests hard rock royalty
• New Forest Service plans
• Bill supporting small miners
• New mercury emission regs
• Latest info on California suction dredging
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Trump cabinet forming
• Last minute regulations
• California suction dredging
Taking on the EPA, Sasquatch, Ratchilla and Gold Dredging
...we packed up our two dredges and headed for our claim about an hour away on the South Fork of the Clearwater to dredge openly in opposition to the EPA.
Alaska: Large-Scale Mining Can Be Done Right
"As elected leaders of the State of Alaska, we want you to know that Alaska is open to investment from those who seek to develop our state's natural resources safely and responsibly..."
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Hike in mining claim fees
• Hearing on suction gold dredging in California
• Interior wants mining reform
Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Forest Service proposes next step in Agenda 21
• 9th Circuit deals blow to small miners
Legislative and Regulatory Update
- Massive 660-page lands bill passed in the Senate
Subscription Required:
The Bawl Mill
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Ask the Experts
• Common Mistakes of the New Detectorist
• The Pearce Mineralized Area, Dragoon Mountains, Arizona—Part II
• Mining for Gemstones and Mineral Specimens
• Fighting and Winning Without a Lawyer
• The Essentials of Dry Washing
• Fortymile, Alaska Prospecting Adventure
• Court Says Emergency Rule in California Unjustified
• Sampling Placer Stockpiles
• Lower Prices Bring Layoffs
• Prospecting Research
• Buyer Beware! Counterfeit Metal Detectors
• Melman on Gold & Silver
• Mining Stock Quotes and Mineral & Metal Prices
• Underground in the Original 16-1 Mine
