Why It Matters
Barrick Gold of North America Inc. filed its third-quarter 2026 in-house lobbying report covering the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, federal Interior appropriations, sage grouse conservation, permitting, and post-mine closure and monitoring issues. The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act would allow hardrock mining operators to use federal public lands for activities ancillary to mining, such as waste disposal, regardless of mineral validity. It would establish an Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund. Barrick Gold's filings list H.R. 1366, which passed the House and was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar on March 17.
By the Numbers
Barrick's in-house third-quarter 2026 filing reports $300,000, flat from the second quarter of 2026 and matching the in-house amount in every quarter from the second quarter of 2025 through the third quarter of 2026, except the third quarter of 2025 when it was $270,000. Across all registrants, Barrick's third-quarter 2026 total is $630,000, up $50,000 from $580,000 in the third quarter of 2025 and flat from the second quarter of 2026.
The third-quarter 2026 team:
- In-house: Christina Erling, vice president, government affairs, North America.
- Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP: Norm Brownstein.
- Bernhardt Group LLC: Kate Gonzales, Jon Hrobsky.
- Cassidy & Associates Inc.: Ryan Mulvenon, Jed Dearborn Jr., Peter Stahley, Samantha Swing, Andrew Forbes, Kai Anderson.
Broader Context
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
H.R. 1366, sponsored by Rep. Mark E. Amodei (R-NV-2), passed the House and was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar as Calendar No. 357 on March 17, 2026. The Senate companion, S. 544, sponsored by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar as Calendar No. 334 on Feb. 11.
House Natural Resources Committee members Bruce Westerman and Mark Amodei argued that the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act (H.R. 1366) restores regulatory certainty after the Rosemont decision.
A letter signed by 122 organizations, tribes, companies, and elected officials opposed both bills, arguing that they could permit indefinite mill sites for toxic waste and mining infrastructure and allow activities across public lands without additional permits. The letter cited Environmental Protection Agency estimates that hardrock mines have contaminated 40% of headwaters and 50% of lakes.
Interior Appropriations and Permitting
H.R. 9171, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027, sponsored by Rep. Michael K. Simpson (R-ID-2), was placed on the House Union Calendar on June 5. The Bureau of Land Management announced final updated greater sage-grouse plans on Dec. 22, 2025, describing them as balancing habitat conservation with access to public lands. An Oct. 3 report said Senate committees had agreed on an energy-permitting reform bill that would set one-year deadlines for environmental assessments and two-year deadlines for environmental impact statements; the report did not say the bill had become law.
Competitive Landscape
Other organizations lobbying H.R. 1366 include Racy Associates Inc., Kinross Gold USA Inc., Trout Unlimited Inc., Jindalee Lithium Ltd., and Newmont Corp.
Other organizations lobbying S. 544 include Kinross Gold USA Inc., Securing America's Future Energy Alliance Inc., Earthworks, Regeneration Enterprises Inc., and ioneer USA Corp.
The Bottom Line
Barrick's client total lobbying spend has held at $630,000 for four consecutive quarters, from fourth quarter 2025 through third quarter 2026, after rising from $580,000 in the third quarter of 2025. Both Mining Regulatory Clarity Act vehicles have been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar: S. 544 on February 11, and H.R. 1366 on March 17. H.R. 9171 has the status Floor Consideration, and its latest recorded action placed it on the Union Calendar on June 5.
Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights
Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article
