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To codify notice requirements for mineral exploration activities on certain public lands, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill codifies a notice requirement for mineral exploration activities on public lands administered by the Interior Department or Forest Service. Operators must submit notice at least 15 days before beginning exploration activities that disturb 25 acres or less of public land, and the notice must include information required by the Secretary. Within 15 days of receiving a notice, the Secretary must allow the exploration activity to proceed if the surface disturbance does not exceed 25 acres, the notice includes required information, and the operator provides adequate financial assurance. Exploration activities covered include sampling, drilling, constructing drill pads and roads, trenching, and excavating test pits to evaluate mineral deposits, but do not include commercial extraction of minerals.
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Sponsor (1)
Actions (5)
- Mar 20, 2026 Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture. · house
- Feb 24, 2026 Subcommittee Hearings Held · house
- Feb 17, 2026 Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. · house
- Feb 10, 2026 Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
- Feb 10, 2026 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 10, 2026
Ms. Hageman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To codify notice requirements for mineral exploration activities on certain public lands, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Domestic Opportunities for Resource Exploration Act” or the “Domestic ORE Act”.
SEC. 2. NOTICE FOR MINERAL EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES WITH LIMITED SURFACE DISTURBANCE.
(a) In General.—Not later than 15 days before commencing an exploration activity with a surface disturbance of not more than 25 acres of public lands, the operator of such exploration activity shall submit to the Secretary concerned a notice of such exploration activity.
(b) Inclusions.—A notice submitted under subsection (a) shall include such information the Secretary concerned may require, which may include information described in section 3809.301 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
(c) Review.—Not later than 15 days after the Secretary concerned receives a notice of an exploration activity submitted under subsection
(a), the Secretary concerned shall—
(1) allow the exploration activity to proceed if—
(A) the surface disturbance of such exploration activity will not be more than 25 acres of public lands;
(B) the Secretary concerned determines that the notice includes the information required under subsection (b); and
(C) the operator provides financial assurance that the Secretary concerned determines is adequate; or
(2) notify the operator that information is missing from the notice and specify any information that is required to be included in the notice under subsection (b).
(d) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) Casual use.—The term “casual use” has the meaning given such term in section 3809.5 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
(2) Exploration activity.—The term “exploration activity”—
(A) means creating a surface disturbance greater than casual use that includes sampling, drilling, or developing surface or underground workings to evaluate the type, extent, quantity, or quality of minerals present;
(B) includes constructing drill roads and drill pads, drilling, trenching, excavating test pits, and conducting geotechnical tests and geophysical surveys; and
(C) does not include an activity in which material is extracted for commercial use or sale.
(3) Mineral.—The term “mineral” means any mineral of a kind that is locatable under the Act of May 10, 1872 (Chapter 152; 17 Stat. 91).
(4) Operator.—The term “operator” has the meaning given such term in section 3809.5 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
(5) Public land.—The term “public land” means land owned by the United States that is open to location under the Act of May 10, 1872 (Chapter 152; 17 Stat. 91).
(6) Secretary concerned.—The term “Secretary concerned” means—
(A) with respect to land administered by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior; and
(B) with respect to National Forest System land, the Secretary of Agriculture. <all>
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