RENO, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) -- A federal report on mineral mining on public lands could lead to changes in the 140-year-old laws governing U.S. hard rock mining.
As of right now, the federal government keeps no record of how much gold, cooper or any mineral is taken from from public lands each year.
Companies licensed to operate mines on public lands pay no royalties or taxes on money made from the minerals.
Currently, companies pay $189 to locate a claim and then $140 annually to maintain it after the first year.
Nevada is the leading producer of gold in the United States.
