(Juneau) - Alaska miners who miss their filing deadline will soon be able to correct their mistake without losing their claim. Under present law, if a miner misses the filing deadline for paperwork, fees, and royalties, even by one day, they loose their claim.

House Bill 344, sponsored by Representative Hugh Fate (R-Fairbanks), will allow a miner who misses the deadline to file and pay a penalty equal to one year's rent. Governor Murkowski singed the bill into law Tuesday.

"In the past, about 12 miners per year have missed the deadline and have subsequently lost their claims. Because of statute, the Department of Natural Resources was unable to offer a way to correct the problem. Miners have ended up with equipment sitting out at the claim and trying to figure out how to move it," said Representative Fate. "This bill gives them an opportunity to protect their claim, provided someone else has not overfiled. I would like to thank the Alaska Miners Association and the Department of Natural Resources for working with me on this legislation that I feel will be a genuine help to the small miner."

With the Governor's signature, the bill becomes law in 90 days, in plenty of time before the next filing deadline.

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