(Juneau) - Alaska's small miners are a step closer to a cure if they file their paperwork, pay their royalties or pay their rent late. By a unanimous vote, HB 344, sponsored by Representative Hugh Fate (R-Fairbanks) passed the House today. The bill fixes a problem in state law that penalized miners with loss of their claim for missing the deadline. The loss is applied even if the paperwork is as little as a day late.

Under the change, miners will be granted an extension, and be able to save their claims by filing the paperwork and paying the costs plus a penalty of one years rent. Each year miners miss the deadline, and ask for relief only to be told the statute does not permit it. The loss of work on the claim is not the only problem as often there is equipment and structures still at the site that must be moved.

According to Representative Fate, "HB 344 is aimed at keeping the small miner working. Many miners put in long hours making improvements to their claims, and searching for precious metals. Losing that time and effort because of a mistake is simply ludicrous. The economics created by a small miner is almost always local as miners purchase the majority of their supplies, from food to equipment, through local venders."

HB 344 now heads to the Senate.

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