Legal Definitions - mill site

A mill site refers to a specific parcel of land designated or used for the construction and operation of a mill. Historically, this often meant a location near a water source to harness power for grinding grain or processing materials. In modern legal contexts, particularly within mining law, it refers to a plot of non-mineral public land associated with a primary mining claim, used for essential support activities like ore processing, equipment storage, or administrative offices.

• Imagine a community in the early 19th century needing a place to process their harvested grain. A local entrepreneur identifies a small, level tract of land directly adjacent to a strong, consistent creek. This particular spot is perfect for building a gristmill, as the creek can power the millstones, and the land is stable enough for construction and access. This parcel of land would be considered a mill site because its location and characteristics make it ideal for establishing and operating a water-powered mill.

• Consider a modern mining operation that has successfully staked a claim for a valuable mineral deposit deep within a mountain. While the actual mineral extraction occurs underground, the company requires surface space for crucial support activities. They identify a five-acre parcel of public land nearby that contains no valuable minerals itself. On this parcel, they plan to build a crushing plant to process the extracted ore, a storage facility for heavy machinery, and administrative offices for their staff. This non-mineral parcel would be legally designated as a mill site, as it is claimed by the mining operation to facilitate the necessary ore-reduction and other operational functions related to their primary mineral claim.