30 U.S.C. § 28f

Fee

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(a) Claim maintenance fee(1) Lode mining claims, mill sites, and tunnel sites

The holder of each unpatented lode mining claim, mill site, or tunnel site, located pursuant to the mining laws of the United States before, on, or after August 10, 1993, shall pay to the Secretary of the Interior, on or before September 1 of each year, to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, a claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim or site, respectively. Such claim maintenance fee shall be in lieu of the assessment work requirement contained in the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 28–28e) 11 See References in Text note below. and the related filing requirements contained in section 1744(a) and (c) of title 43.

(2) Placer mining claims

The holder of each unpatented placer mining claim located pursuant to the mining laws of the United States before, on, or after August 10, 1993, shall pay to the Secretary of the Interior, on or before September 1 of each year, the claim maintenance fee described in subsection (a)(1), for each 20 acres of the placer claim or portion thereof. Such claim maintenance fee shall be in lieu of the assessment work requirement contained in the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 28 to 28e) ¹ and the related filing requirements contained in section 1744(a) and (c) of title 43.

(b) Time of payment

The claim main tenance 22 So in original. Probably should be “maintenance”. fee under subsection (a) shall be paid for the year in which the location is made, at the time the location notice is recorded with the Bureau of Land Management. The location fee imposed under section 28g of this title shall be payable not later than 90 days after the date of location.

This section shall not apply to any oil shale claims for which a fee is required to be paid under section 2511(e)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–486; 106 Stat. 3111; 30 U.S.C. 242).

(d) Waiver(1) The claim maintenance fee required under this section may be waived for a claimant who certifies in writing to the Secretary that on the date the payment was due, the claimant and all related parties—(A) held not more than 10 mining claims, mill sites, or tunnel sites, or any combination thereof, on public lands; and(B) have performed assessment work required under the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 28–28e) ¹ to maintain the mining claims held by the claimant and such related parties for the assessment year ending on noon of September 1 of the calendar year in which payment of the claim maintenance fee was due.(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), with respect to any claimant, the term “related party” means—(A) the spouse and dependent children (as defined in section 152 of title 26), of the claimant; and(B) a person who controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the claimant.For purposes of this section, the term control includes actual control, legal control, and the power to exercise control, through or by common directors, officers, stockholders, a voting trust, or a holding company or investment company, or any other means.(3) If a small miner waiver application is determined to be defective for any reason, the claimant shall have a period of 60 days after receipt of written notification of the defect or defects by the Bureau of Land Management to: (A) cure such defect or defects, or (B) pay the $100 claim maintenance fee due for such period.(Pub. L. 103–66, title X, § 10101, Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 405; Pub. L. 105–240, § 116, Sept. 25, 1998, 112 Stat. 1570; Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(e) [title I], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–231, 2681–235; Pub. L. 107–63, title I, (1), Nov. 5, 2001, 115 Stat. 418; Pub. L. 108–108, title I, (1), Nov. 10, 2003, 117 Stat. 1245; Pub. L. 110–161, div. F, title I, (2), Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2101; Pub. L. 111–8, div. E, title I, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 704; Pub. L. 111–88, div. A, title I, Oct. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 2907; Pub. L. 112–74, div. E, title IV, § 430, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1047; Pub. L. 113–6, div. F, title IV, § 1403, Mar. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 419.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

The Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 28–28e), referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d)(1)(B), probably means act May 10, 1872, ch. 152, 17 Stat. 91. That act was incorporated into the Revised Statutes as R.S. §§ 2319 to 2328, 2331, 2333 to 2337, and 2344, which are classified to sections 22 to 24, 26 to 28, 29, 30, 33 to 35, 37, 39 to 42, and 47 of this title. For complete classification of R.S. §§ 2319 to 2328, 2331, 2333 to 2337, and 2344 to the Code, see Tables.

Codification

Pub. L. 111–88, which directed the amendment of section 28f of title 30, United States Code, was executed by making the amendment to section 10101 of Pub. L. 103–66, which is classified to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2009 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 110–161, which directed the amendment of section 28 of title 30, United States Code, “in section 28f(a),” was executed by making the amendment to section 10101 of Pub. L. 103–66, which is classified to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2007 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 108–108, which directed the amendment of section 28 of title 30, United States Code, “in section 28f(a),” was executed by making the amendment to section 10101 of Pub. L. 103–66, which is classified to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2003 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 107–63, which directed the amendment of section 28f of title 30, United States Code, was executed by making the amendment to section 10101 of Pub. L. 103–66, which is classified to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2001 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 105–277, which directed the amendment of section 28f of title 30, United States Code, was executed by making the amendment to section 10101 of Pub. L. 103–66, which is classified to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 1998 Amendment notes below.

Pub. L. 105–240, which directed the amendment of section 28f of title 30, United States Code, was executed by making the amendment to section 10101 of Pub. L. 103–66, which is classified to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 1998 Amendment note below.

Amendments

2013—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–6, § 1403(1), substituted “before, on, or after August 10, 1993” for “on or after August 10, 1993”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 113–6, § 1403(2), struck out “located” after “United States”, substituted “subsection (a)(1)” for “subsection (a)”, and inserted at end “Such claim maintenance fee shall be in lieu of the assessment work requirement contained in the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 28 to 28e) and the related filing requirements contained in section 1744(a) and (c) of title 43.”

2011—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 112–74, § 430(1)(A), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and substituted “The holder of each unpatented lode mining claim, mill site, or tunnel site, located pursuant to the mining laws of the United States on or after August 10, 1993, shall pay to the Secretary of the Interior, on or before September 1 of each year, to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts, a claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim or site, respectively.” for “The holder of each unpatented mining claim, mill, or tunnel site, located pursuant to the mining laws of the United States, whether located before, on or after August 10, 1993, shall pay to the Secretary of the Interior, on or before September 1 of each year, to the extent provided in advance in Appropriations Acts, a claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim or site”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 112–74, § 430(1)(B), added par. (2).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–74, § 430(2), substituted “The claim main tenance fee under subsection (a) shall be paid for the year in which the location is made, at the time the location notice is recorded with the Bureau of Land Management.” for “The claim maintenance fee payable pursuant to subsection (a) of this section for any assessment year shall be paid before the commencement of the assessment year, except that for the initial assessment year in which the location is made, the locator shall pay the claim maintenance fee at the time the location notice is recorded with the Bureau of Land Management.”

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–88 substituted “, to the extent provided in advance in Appropriations Acts,” for “for years 2004 through 2008,”. See Codification note above.

Pub. L. 111–8, which directed the removal of the modifications made by Pub. L. 110–161, was executed by inserting “for years 2004 through 2008” after “before September 1 of each year”. See 2007 Amendment note below.

2007—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–161 struck out “for years 2004 through 2008” after “before September 1 of each year”. See Codification note above.

2003—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–108 substituted “for years 2004 through 2008” for “for years 2002 through 2003”. See Codification note above.

2001—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–63 substituted “The holder of each unpatented mining claim, mill, or tunnel site, located pursuant to the mining laws of the United States, whether located before, on or after August 10, 1993, shall pay to the Secretary of the Interior, on or before September 1 of each year for years 2002 through 2003, a claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim or site” for “The holder of each unpatented mining claim, mill, or tunnel site, located pursuant to the mining laws of the United States, whether located before or after August 10, 1993, shall pay to the Secretary of the Interior, on or before September 1 of each year for years 1999 through 2001, a claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim or site.” See Codification note above.

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–277 added first sentence and struck out former first sentence which read as follows: “The holder of each unpatented mining claim, mill, or tunnel site located pursuant to the mining laws of the United States before October 1, 1998 shall pay the Secretary of the Interior, on or before September 1, 1999 a claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim site.” See Codification note above.

Pub. L. 105–240 substituted “The holder of each unpatented mining claim, mill, or tunnel site located pursuant to the mining laws of the United States before October 1, 1998 shall pay the Secretary of the Interior, on or before September 1, 1999 a claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim site.” for “The holder of each unpatented mining claim, mill or tunnel site located pursuant to the Mining Laws of the United States, whether located before or after August 10, 1993, shall pay to the Secretary of the Interior, on or before August 31 of each year, for years 1994 through 1998, a claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim.” See Codification note above.

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 105–277 added par. (3). See Codification note above.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesSimilar Provisions

Similar provisions were contained in Pub. L. 102–381, title I, Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1378, 1379.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 16 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1996–2025 · leading case: Silver Buckle Mines, Inc. v. United States, 132 Fed. Cl. 77 (Fed. Cl. 2017).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Silver Buckle Mines, Inc. v. United States, 132 Fed. Cl. 77 (Fed. Cl. 2017). · cites it 23× “Mining Law of 1872; 30 U.S.C. § 28f; Claim Maintenance Fees; Federal Land Policy and Management Act; Summary Judgment; RCFC 56; Illegal Exaction; Voluntary Payment Doctrine; Anti-Windfall Doctrine; Class Action Certification; RCFC 23; Definition of Class; Conflict of Interest…”

Silver Buckle Mines, Inc. v. United States, 117 Fed. Cl. 786 (Fed. Cl. 2014). · cites it 11× “RCFC 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss; Bureau of Land Management; 30 U.S.C. § 28f; unpatented mining claim maintenance fee; statutory interpretation; plain meaning; not ambiguous; no absurd result; IOAA, 31 U.”

Charles R. Kunkes & Marguerite v. Kunkes v. United States, 78 F.3d 1549 (Fed. Cir. 1996). · cites it 2× “312 , 405 (codified at 30 U.S.C. § 28f(a) (1988 & Supp.1993)). Holders of 10 or fewer claims may continue to provide assessment work in lieu of the fee.”

Hall v. United States, 84 Fed. Cl. 463 (Fed. Cl. 2008). · cites it 3× “In June 2001, Plaintiff Hall forfeited ownership of the second Silver Swan mining claim, # CAMC 49333, and the ten White Swan claims, because of a failure to pay maintenance fees, as required by Section 28f(a) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, 30 U.S.C. § 28f(a).…”

Freeman v. United States, 83 Fed. Cl. 530 (Fed. Cl. 2008). “See 30 U.S.C. § 28f (2008). 1 Plaintiff alleges he has paid *532 $124,775.”

Miller v. U.S. Dep't of the Interior, 635 F. Supp. 2d 1224 (D. Colo. 2009). · cites it 4× “With regard to the third requirement that Plaintiffs must be ignorant of the true facts, Defendants claim that Plaintiffs could not have been ignorant of the requirement to file their waiver certification by the deadline, because they had complied with the requirements of 30…”

Silver Buckle Mines, Inc. v. United States (Fed. Cl. 2018). · cites it 6× “Since 1993, the BLM has collected, pursuant to 30 U.S.C. § 28f, annual maintenance fees on all unpatented mining claims.”

Mac Proj. LLC v. High Lonesome Claims (D. Nev. 2024). · cites it 5× “” 30 U.S.C. § 28f. 19 Here, the recording of Infinity’s Affidavit to Hold on November 6, 2023, clearly 20 complied with FLPMA’s December 30 deadline.”

Earthworks v. U.S. Dep't of the Interior (D.D.C. 2020). · cites it 2× “See 30 U.S.C. § 28f(a); 43 C.F.R. §§ 3834–3835.”

Saltzman v. United States (Fed. Cir. 2025). · cites it 2× “30 U.S.C. § 28f. Prior to 2012, the maintenance fee was calculated per min- ing claim, regardless of the claim’s size.”

Dimitrov v. Norton, 479 F. Supp. 2d 1141 (D. Mont. 2007). · cites it 3× “There are no "related parties" involved in this case, as the terms is defined in 30 U.S.C. § 28f(d)(2). 2 . The BLM did not dispute that all required assessment work was, in fact, performed.”

Show all 16 citing cases →

— 30 U.S.C. § 28f(a) — 9 cases

Silver Buckle Mines, Inc. v. United States, 132 Fed. Cl. 77 (Fed. Cl. 2017). “Mining Law of 1872; 30 U.S.C. § 28f; Claim Maintenance Fees; Federal Land Policy and Management Act; Summary Judgment; RCFC 56; Illegal Exaction; Voluntary Payment Doctrine; Anti-Windfall Doctrine; Class Action Certification; RCFC 23; Definition of Class; Conflict of Interest…”

Hall v. United States, 84 Fed. Cl. 463 (Fed. Cl. 2008). “In June 2001, Plaintiff Hall forfeited ownership of the second Silver Swan mining claim, # CAMC 49333, and the ten White Swan claims, because of a failure to pay maintenance fees, as required by Section 28f(a) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, 30 U.S.C. § 28f(a).…”

Charles R. Kunkes & Marguerite v. Kunkes v. United States, 78 F.3d 1549 (Fed. Cir. 1996). “312 , 405 (codified at 30 U.S.C. § 28f(a) (1988 & Supp.1993)). Holders of 10 or fewer claims may continue to provide assessment work in lieu of the fee.”

Silver Buckle Mines, Inc. v. United States, 117 Fed. Cl. 786 (Fed. Cl. 2014). “RCFC 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss; Bureau of Land Management; 30 U.S.C. § 28f; unpatented mining claim maintenance fee; statutory interpretation; plain meaning; not ambiguous; no absurd result; IOAA, 31 U.”

Miller v. U.S. Dep't of the Interior, 635 F. Supp. 2d 1224 (D. Colo. 2009). “With regard to the third requirement that Plaintiffs must be ignorant of the true facts, Defendants claim that Plaintiffs could not have been ignorant of the requirement to file their waiver certification by the deadline, because they had complied with the requirements of 30…”

— 30 U.S.C. § 28f(a)(1) — 2 cases

Silver Buckle Mines, Inc. v. United States (Fed. Cl. 2018). “Since 1993, the BLM has collected, pursuant to 30 U.S.C. § 28f, annual maintenance fees on all unpatented mining claims.”

Mac Proj. LLC v. High Lonesome Claims (D. Nev. 2024). “” 30 U.S.C. § 28f. 19 Here, the recording of Infinity’s Affidavit to Hold on November 6, 2023, clearly 20 complied with FLPMA’s December 30 deadline.”

— 30 U.S.C. § 28f(a)(2) — 2 cases

Saltzman v. United States (Fed. Cir. 2025). “30 U.S.C. § 28f. Prior to 2012, the maintenance fee was calculated per min- ing claim, regardless of the claim’s size.”

— 30 U.S.C. § 28f(a)(l) — 2 cases

— 30 U.S.C. § 28f(d) — 3 cases

Silver Buckle Mines, Inc. v. United States (Fed. Cl. 2018). “Since 1993, the BLM has collected, pursuant to 30 U.S.C. § 28f, annual maintenance fees on all unpatented mining claims.”

— 30 U.S.C. § 28f(d)(1) — 1 case

Miller v. Us Dept. of Interior, 635 F. Supp. 2d 1224 (D. Colo. 2009).

— 30 U.S.C. § 28f(d)(2) — 1 case

Dimitrov v. Norton, 479 F. Supp. 2d 1141 (D. Mont. 2007). “There are no "related parties" involved in this case, as the terms is defined in 30 U.S.C. § 28f(d)(2). 2 . The BLM did not dispute that all required assessment work was, in fact, performed.”

— 30 U.S.C. § 28f(d)(3) — 2 cases

Miller v. Us Dept. of Interior, 635 F. Supp. 2d 1224 (D. Colo. 2009).

— 30 U.S.C. § 28f(d)(l) — 2 cases

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