New Reporting Obligations Imposed on Mining Companies Under the Dodd-Frank Act

While much has been written about the wide-ranging impact of the recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Act") on financial institutions, mining companies whose securities are publicly traded in the United States will need to consider the implications of three provisions of the Act dealing with new reporting obligations affecting this industry. Two of these provisions are directly applicable to mining companies and mandate disclosure regarding mine safety information and payments to various government entities in connection with the commercial development of oil, natural gas, or minerals. The third provision, which relates to manufacturing companies' use of conflict minerals originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjoining countries, may indirectly affect mining companies with operations in those countries. As with many aspects of the Act, implementation of these requirements is dependent upon future regulatory