H.R. 7458: Domestic ORE Act

Summary

The Domestic Opportunities for Resource Exploration (Domestic ORE) Act is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 10, 2026. The main purpose of the bill is to codify notice requirements for mineral exploration activities on certain public lands.

Key Provisions

Notice Requirement for Limited Exploration Activities
- Operators must submit a notice to the Secretary concerned (Interior or Agriculture) at least 15 days before starting mineral exploration activities that disturb no more than 25 acres of public lands.
- The notice must include information required by the Secretary, which may include details described in federal regulations.
- The Secretary has 15 days to either allow the exploration to proceed or notify the operator that information is missing from the notice.

Definitions
- "Exploration activity" is defined as creating a surface disturbance greater than casual use, including activities like drilling, trenching, and geophysical surveys (but not extraction for commercial use).
- "Public land" refers to land owned by the U.S. that is open to mineral location under the 1872 Mining Act.
- "Secretary concerned" means the Secretary of the Interior for lands they administer, or the Secretary of Agriculture for National Forest System lands.

Potential Impact

• This bill would establish a standardized notice and review process for smaller-scale mineral exploration activities on public lands, rather than requiring a full mining plan of operations.
• It aims to streamline the regulatory process for domestic mineral development, which supporters say is important for U.S. economic and national security interests.
• However, critics may argue the bill reduces environmental safeguards and public oversight of mineral exploration on public lands.

The bill is currently in the early legislative process, having been referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.