BLM Hardrock Mining Reclamation Bond
Mining on federal land under BLM's hardrock rules means posting a financial guarantee for reclamation. A surety bond is one of the ways to do it. Tell us your notice or plan and your reclamation estimate. We shop multiple Treasury-listed surety carriers, and you pay only when your bond is issued.
Prefer to talk? Call 1-844-810-2663
Free quote. Pay only when your bond is issued.
All content is researched from official state and federal sources (.gov). BuySuretyBonds.com works with Treasury-listed surety carriers.
Who needs a BLM reclamation bond
BLM's hardrock mining rules are at 43 CFR subpart 3809. They cover mining claim operations on BLM-managed public lands, such as exploration, bulk sampling, mining and milling.
- Casual use needs no financial guarantee.
- Operations under a notice or a plan of operations must provide BLM, or the State, with a financial guarantee before starting (43 CFR 3809.500).
- A plan of operations is needed before any operation beyond casual use; the main exception is notice-level exploration. Bulk sampling of 1,000 tons or more of presumed ore, and operations in certain special-status areas, also require a plan (43 CFR 3809.11).
Notice or plan? A notice covers exploration causing surface disturbance of 5 acres or less. You file a complete notice with BLM 15 calendar days before you start, and you cannot split a project into a series of notices to avoid a plan of operations (43 CFR 3809.21). Either way, the guarantee is due before you begin. Not sure which applies? Pick “Not sure yet” on the form.
Coal, aggregate and state-land mines have their own rules. See our mining and coal bond page.
How BLM sets the amount
There is no standard price list for this bond. The bond amount is the reclamation estimate.
- The guarantee must cover the estimated cost as if BLM were to contract with a third party to reclaim your operations according to the reclamation plan, plus interim stabilization and infrastructure maintenance while those contracts are arranged (43 CFR 3809.552).
- BLM accepts several kinds of financial guarantee. Surety bonds that meet Treasury Circular 570 are one of them (43 CFR 3809.555).
You or your consultant prepare the reclamation cost estimate with your notice or plan, and BLM reviews it. The bond is written for the number BLM accepts.
The premium is typically a small percentage of the bond amount per year; the carrier sets the final price. Any cost we show is an estimate until a surety issues the bond.
Sources: 43 CFR 3809.552 and 3809.555 (rules as of Sep 30, 2026).
The bond rider and state co-bonding
- Your bond is prepared on BLM's bond form with the surety. The principal and the surety sign it.
- BLM also publishes a rider, Form 3809-4 (May 2020), that extends a bond's coverage to operations run by parties other than the principal. This matters if an operator is working your claim or you are taking over an operation.
- Nevada's Division of Minerals runs a Reclamation Performance Bond Pool for exploration and mining operators, which the state says is accepted by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and BLM. Participants pay deposits and premiums.
- Under 43 CFR 3809.570, BLM may accept a financial guarantee you already hold with a State agency in place of a separate federal one, if it is redeemable by BLM, covers the same operations and is at least the amount this subpart requires. Ask your BLM field office and state agency whether yours qualifies.
Release after reclamation
- The bond stays in force until BLM releases the financial guarantee after reclamation.
- Release is not a final clearance. Under 43 CFR 3809.592, release of the guarantee does not remove your responsibility for reclamation if it fails to meet the standards, and it does not bar claims under environmental liability laws such as CERCLA.
- Keep your reclamation records and your BLM correspondence for the release request.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a BLM mining reclamation bond cost?
You pay a premium that is a percentage of the bond amount, and the amount is your reclamation estimate. The premium is typically a small percentage of the bond amount per year; the carrier sets the final price. A quote gives you the actual figure.
Do I need a bond for casual use?
No. BLM does not require a financial guarantee for casual use. It does for notice and plan operations (43 CFR 3809.500).
Can a surety bond be used?
Yes. BLM accepts surety bonds that meet Treasury Circular 570 (43 CFR 3809.555). Other forms of guarantee are also allowed.
Who sets the bond amount?
Your reclamation cost estimate, as reviewed and accepted by BLM. The guarantee must cover the estimated cost for BLM to hire a third party to reclaim the operation, plus interim stabilization (43 CFR 3809.552).
What if I don’t have a cost estimate yet?
Pick “No estimate yet” in the form. We can work from your notice or plan while you finalize the number.
I am taking over another operator’s claim. What do I need?
BLM publishes a bond rider (Form 3809-4) that extends a bond to cover operations by parties other than the principal. Ask us about it.
Is there a state alternative?
Nevada runs a state reclamation bond pool that it says BLM accepts. Other states have their own programs. We can quote a surety bond if a state program does not fit.
Do I pay before the bond is issued?
No. You pay only when your bond is issued.
Is this the same as an oil and gas lease bond?
No. Oil and gas leases are bonded under 43 CFR 3104. See our BLM lease bond page for oil and gas.
Oil and gas operator? See the BLM lease bond page or all oil, gas and energy bonds.
Get my reclamation bond quote
We shop multiple Treasury-listed surety carriers. If one can't write your bond, we can take it to another.
Get My Reclamation Bond QuotePrefer to talk? Call 1-844-810-2663
Free quote. Pay only when your bond is issued.
Sources (rules as of Sep 30, 2026)
- 43 CFR 3809.500 (financial guarantee required)
- 43 CFR 3809.552 (amount of the guarantee)
- 43 CFR 3809.555 (acceptable guarantees)
- 43 CFR 3809.11 (plan of operations)
- 43 CFR 3809.21 (notice)
- 43 CFR 3809.570 (existing State guarantee)
- 43 CFR 3809.592 (release)
- BLM Form 3809-4 bond rider (May 2020)
- Nevada Division of Minerals, Reclamation Performance Bond Pool
Rules as of Sep 30, 2026. Confirm with your BLM field office before filing. General information, not legal advice.