Oil shale miners no longer have to pay annual fees to hold claims

The US government has removed the requirement for oil shale mining companies to pay annual fees to maintain their claims. This means companies can hold onto undeveloped oil shale land indefinitely without paying the government for it.

For years, the government tried to make companies pay to hold onto oil shale claims they weren't developing. This rule change removes that small cost. It makes it easier for companies to speculate on future oil prices without having to invest in actual mining operations.