Bureau of Land Management officials remind mining claimants that annual maintenance fees are due Thursday, Sept. 1.
The fee is required for claimants who hold unpatented mining claims or sites on federal lands and wish to retain those claims on public lands through the 2023 assessment year. Claimants who cannot pay may file a maintenance fee waiver certification (small miner’s waiver) by the same date. Mining claims will be declared forfeit and void if the BLM does not receive payments or waiver certifications postmarked on or before Sept. 1.
A mining claim is a parcel of land for which a claimant has asserted a right of possession and the right to develop and extract a discovered, valuable mineral deposit. This right does not include exclusive surface rights. Generally, claimants are required to perform annual assessment work on claims. The maintenance fee replaces this requirement while ensuring the claimant is still invested.
This year, the BLM posted the annual reminder packet online at https://on.doi.gov/3PE2qRU. Submissions of mining claims are encouraged to be filed by mail or online through the Mineral and Land Records System at mlrs.blm.gov/s/. Most filings and payments may be submitted in MLRS except for maintenance fee waiver certifications, which must be mailed to the office.
Original copies of these certifications and/or other filings and payments may be sent to the Oregon/Washington State Office by mail at: Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Mining Claims, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR 97208. Address packets sent by FedEx or UPS to Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Mining Claims, 1220 S.W. 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204.
The Oregon/Washington State Office public room in Portland remains temporarily closed to in-person visits. However, the mail is being regularly checked and processed in order of receipt.
For assistance, contact the BLM Oregon/Washington State Office at (503) 808-6001 (option 2) or via email at [email protected].