An Act To amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that Act applicable to hardrock minerals.
Summary
H.R. 3872 amends the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to include hardrock minerals. This change expands the scope of the Act, which previously focused on other resources like oil and gas. The amendment defines 'hardrock minerals' and specifies minerals excluded from this definition.
Expected Effects
The Act will broaden the types of mineral resources that can be leased on acquired lands. This could lead to increased mining activity for hardrock minerals on these lands. It also clarifies the definitions of key terms within the Mineral Leasing Act.
Potential Benefits
- Potential for increased domestic mineral production.
- Possible job creation in the mining and related industries.
- Increased revenue for the government through leasing and royalties.
- Greater access to resources essential for various industries.
- Could reduce reliance on foreign sources for certain minerals.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential environmental damage from increased mining activity.
- Possible conflicts with existing land uses and conservation efforts.
- Increased regulatory burden for mining companies.
- Potential impacts on local communities near mining sites.
- Possible negative impacts on biodiversity and water quality.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with Congress's power under Article I, Section 8, which grants it the authority to regulate and dispose of federal property. The Property Clause (Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2) also gives Congress the power to manage federal lands. There is no apparent conflict with individual rights or freedoms protected by the Constitution.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).