Idaho Bills

States findings of the Legislature and requests Idaho work with the federal government to reform certain federal acts that impede the production and processing of minerals in Idaho.

This Senate Joint Memorial exemplifies the vast mineral resources that Idaho has and the economic opportunities that mineral extraction and processing offers. Streamlining the permitting process at the State and federal level is vital to the success of the mining industry. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on mineral projects in order to meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards; and mining companies still face endless litigation. The United States has some of the highest environmental, safety, and health standards in the world. It is of the utmost importance that the State of Idaho work with the new Trump Administration in streamlining permitting reform, use of public lands, and encourage domestic mining and mineral processing activities in the United States.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for the adjustment of line license tax allocations, the expenditures of reclamation funds, voluntary contributions, the establishment of an advisory committee, the responsibilities of the department of lands, and the setting of reclamation priorities.

The changes in this bill provide additional monies from the Idaho Mine License Tax for the use in the Abandoned Mine Land Fund and provides for voluntary contributions to the Abandoned Mine Land Fund. Voluntary contributions from mining companies can be considered as part of the required environmental or natural resource requirements for new or expanded mining operations. The bill also specifies what percentage of funds must be spent on direct reclamation activities. The bill requires the Idaho Department of Lands to prioritize abandoned mine sites as to actions needed, to provide an annual report of how funds were expended (by eligible site) and actual progress made (by eligible site). Finally, the bill creates an advisory committee to provide guidance to the department of Lands on priorities of eligible sites for reclamation and planned reclamation actions.