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The article reports on a bill passed by the U.S. House to expedite permits for mining critical minerals on public lands, dismissing objections from President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats that the bill would weaken environmental regulation and could cover hard-rock mining. Democrats critique the bill's definition of critical and strategic minerals. Amendments to the bill covering critical and strategic minerals and mining royalties were rejected by the House.

The article that a legislation to revise the 1872 Mining Law has been blocked in the U.S. Senate, where Westerners hold key positions. Accordingly, one of the factors that has hung up negotiations since the version was passed in November 2007 is whether more land should be withdrawn from possible exploration. It states that because of its inability to change the law, the Congress has increasingly withdrawn millions of acres of public land piecemeal from mining exploration.

The article reports on a bill that would impose royalties on mining companies that produce minerals such as gold, copper and uranium approved by the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee on October 23, 2007. The legislation would impose an eight percent royalty on new hard-rock mines based on gross proceeds. The bill would also simplify the application process for exploration permits and extend the term of mine permits to up to 20 years, as opposed to the original measure's 10 years.

Reports on the approval of a bill on mine safety by the U.S. Health, Education, Labor and Pensions panel. Reaction of mine owners and miners on the approval of the bill; Efforts to minimize coal mining accidents in the U.S.; Views of Luke Popovich, a spokesman for the National Mining Association, on the succession of accidents in the mining industry.

Deals with the obstacles to the tentative agreement on the fiscal 2000 Interior spending bill in the United States. Environmental riders on the bill; Agreement on a controversial matter dealing with grazing permits; Obstacle related to mining and revenue for offshore drilling.