MILLSITES OPINION.

Sec. 3006. MILLSITES OPINION. (a) Prohibition on Millsite Limitations.— Notwithstanding the opinion dated November 7, 1997, by the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior concerning millsites under the general mining law (referred to in this section as the “opinion”), in accordance with the millsite provisions of the Bureau of Land Management Handbook for Mineral Examiners H–3890–1, page III–8 (dated 1989), and section 2811.33 of the Forest Service Manual (dated 1990), the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture shall not limit the number or acreage of millsites based on the ratio between the number or acreage of millsites and the number or acreage of associated lode or placer claims with respect to the Crown Jewel project, Okanogan County, Washington for any fiscal year. (b) Effect on Prior Approvals and Records of Decision.— As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture shall approve the plan of operations and reinstate the record of decision for the Crown Jewel project.113 STAT. 91(c) No patent application or plan of operations submitted prior to the date of the enactment of this Act shall be denied pursuant to the opinion of the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior dated November 7, 1997.