Alaska State Office
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News Release |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News Release No. 09-25
Contact: Carol Taylor, 907-271-4402 Date: 6/30/09
BLM-Alaska Announces Mining Fee Increases
The fee for locating or staking a mining claim has increased from $30 to $34 and the annual maintenance fee has increased from $125 to $140 for unpatented claims.
The adjusted maintenance fee is due on or before September 1, 2009. As of June 29, 2009, mining claimants must pay the adjusted location fee for any new mining claim or site. Those who have already submitted maintenance fees for the 2010 assessment year can pay the additional amount without penalty upon notice from the BLM.
In accordance with the Mining Law of 1872, as amended, and in light of recent related regulatory actions, the BLM recently announced a new final rule that establishes a regular schedule for adjusting mining-related location and annual maintenance fees. Specifically, the new rule authorizes adjustments to these fees to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index every five years after August 10, 1993, or more frequently if the Secretary of the Interior determines an adjustment to be reasonable.
The BLM has not adjusted location and maintenance fees since 2004. The adjustments made in this final rule are based on the change in the Consumer Price Index from December 31, 2003, through December 31, 2008, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The link to the final rule in the Federal Register is: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-15248.pdf
The BLM manages more land – 256 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
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