*MINING CLAIM MAINTENANCE & ASSESSMENT WORK

Annual Assessment Work

Assessment work is not a requirement for owners of mill or tunnel sites. However, they must file a notice of intention to hold the site(s) with the BLM. For mill sites and tunnel sites, filing with the county is not required unles the specific State laws so require.

Performance of assessment work must be within a certain period referred to as the assessment year. The assessment year begins at noon, September 1. It ends at noon, September 1, of the next year (see 43 CFR 3833.0 5[n]). Performance of assessment work need not occur during the first assessment year of location.

There is no requirement for filing evidence of assessment work or a notice of intention to hold a claim upon issuance of the first half mineral entry final certificate for a mineral patent. However, these requirements are reinstated upon cancellation of the final certificate by the BLM or upon withdrawal of the application by the claimant.

A notice of intention to hold a claim or site is a letter or notice signed by the claimant(s) or their agent(s). It is used to satisfy a recording requirement in those circumstances were an affidavit of labor cannot be filed, but an annual statement is required under State or Federal law.

It should include the BLM serial number assigned to each claim or site and any change in mailing address of the claimant(s). If used to notify the county and the BLM of an approved or pending petition for deferment of annual assessment work, it must include a reference to the decision on file with the BLM (by date granted and serial number) or the pending petition (by date of filing and serial number).