The federal regulator MSHA has massive power and they visit on schedules (often quarterly, depends on mine size) and unannounced. Anyone can call MSHA hotline and file anonymous report, and MSHA investigates and writes citations. MSHA inspector can literally stop work and send staff home with pay.
> While it's true that the state does not benefit financially from mineral extraction in the form of royalties
Mineral royalties go to feds with a split to States. Wyoming legislature has a flowchart which says in part, "Federal mineral royalties are generally split evenly between the federal government and the state governments of origin ...".
And there are State regulators, though typically just a handful. https://dws.wyo.gov/dws-division/mine-inspections-safety/
The federal regulator MSHA has massive power and they visit on schedules (often quarterly, depends on mine size) and unannounced. Anyone can call MSHA hotline and file anonymous report, and MSHA investigates and writes citations. MSHA inspector can literally stop work and send staff home with pay.
https://arlweb.msha.gov/PROGRAMS/assess/citationsandorders.a...
> While it's true that the state does not benefit financially from mineral extraction in the form of royalties
Mineral royalties go to feds with a split to States. Wyoming legislature has a flowchart which says in part, "Federal mineral royalties are generally split evenly between the federal government and the state governments of origin ...".
https://www.wyoleg.gov/2021/Databook/Operations/Revenue/f-Fe...
From HCN article, "The law hasn’t fundamentally changed in 151 years ...".
Maybe it works okay and stands the test of time. Along the way extraction pollution (water air noise) and remediation have changed significantly.