Historic Mining Equipment in Mariposa County
Sierra Sun Times file photo

Conveniently pay online using the Mineral & Land Records System

July 17, 2022 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management reminds claimants who wish to retain mining claims on public lands through the 2023 assessment year to pay a maintenance fee or file a Maintenance Fee Waiver Certification (Small Miner’s Waiver) on or before Thursday, Sept. 1, to prevent the mining claim from being declared forfeit and void. 

Courtesy Mining Claims Packets are available online here or upon request through the California State Office, Information Access Center (Public Room). The BLM will not be mailing packets, unless requested.

The maintenance fee for a lode claim, tunnel site or mill site is $165 per claim or site. For placer mining claims only, the fees are $165 for every 20 acres or portion thereof. Claimants who filed a Small Miner's Waiver in 2021 for the 2022 assessment year will be required to file an Affidavit of Annual Assessment Work form, including the required $15 processing fee per claim on or before Friday, Dec. 30.

The BLM is following local, state, and federal guidelines on a phased approach to safely reopen in-person public access to the Public Room in California offices, as safety of visitors and employees is the agency’s top priority. The California State Office Public Room in Sacramento is operating at a limited capacity for in-person access. Therefore, the BLM encourages submission of mining claims by mail or online. 

• Mail: Checks must be printed showing the address, with recommended Certified Mail being the preferred method of shipment, to Bureau of Land Management-CASO, ATTN: Accounts/Mining, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1623, Sacramento, CA 95825. Payments or filings by mail must be postmarked on or before Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.
• Phone: For Maintenance Fees Only: Call 916-978-4400 to pay by telephone.
• Online: Visit the BLM’s Mineral & Land Records System (MLRS) payment portal here to make a payment with a credit card. Note: Small Miner’s Waiver cannot be filed on MLRS due to original signatures needed.
• In-Person: Claimants who wish to make filings and payments via mail or in person must make their filing to the proper BLM State Office for the state where the claims or sites are located. An appointment must be made at this time for an in-person visit. Check the website for times and telephone numbers for BLM Public Room hours.  

For information on the filing deadlines, maintenance fees, Maintenance Fee Waiver Certifications, or Federal Land Policy and Management Act filings (Affidavit of Annual Assessment Work or Notice of Intent to Hold) please call the Information Access Center (Public Room) at 916-978-4400, or visit the BLM California Public Room website online. To review mining claim fees online, please visit the website here.
Source: BLM