1872 Mining Law Reform - Stop Toxic Mining

Today, a Civil War era law that's still on the books gives the mining of gold, uranium and other "hardrock" minerals priority status on our public lands regardless of its impact on conservation and recreation. It permits mining companies to take precious metals virtually for free. And, it allows claimholders to purchase public land at the rock bottom price of $5 an acre or less.

Mining is a messy business. The federal government estimates that hardrock mining has degraded approximately 40% of western watersheds that will cost at least $50 billion to clean up. Here in New Mexico there are an estimated 15,000 abandoned mines.

Fortunately, New Mexican's can play a pivitol role in reforming this antiquated law. Our two senators, Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici serve as the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy Committee and they are in the process of holding hearings on reforming the 1872 Mining Law. Make your voice heard NOW!

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Talking Points

- End hardrock mining's priority status on many public lands.
- Place national forest roadless areas "off limits" to new mining claims.
- Preserve national parks by placing protective buffers limiting new claims.
- Protect taxpayers by requiring royalty payments for all mining on public lands - current and future.
- Preserve water quality and prevent perpetual pollution.
- Prevent "bad actors" from repeating their performance.

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

Thank you for continuing the process of reforming the 1872 Mining Law. As you know the House has already passed strong mining overhaul legislation, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007, and the West has a vital interest in the Senate passing comparable reform and the President signing a bill this Congress.

The 1872 Mining Law made sense for the West when it was written, but that was during the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant. Fundamentally unchanged since then, the law still governs mining practices on federal lands and today it is a frontier-era relic that has long since outlived its usefulness.

We all know the harm this law has done: it has privatized federal lands equal in size to the state of Connecticut, and at bargain basement prices; it allows mining companies to cart off billions of dollars in publicly-owned minerals without paying any royalties; and because it contains no environmental protections it has led to the degradation of streams and landscapes throughout our region.

I urge you to support a Senate version of the bill that will match or exceed the needed reforms in the House bill. It should include a permanent end to the land patenting system, equitable royalties that will help fund future abandoned mine cleanup projects, strong environmental and reclamation standards and the ability for federal land managers to ban new mining on sensitive federal lands.
 
In addition, the bill should include the provision incorporated in the House package that would allow the state, county and tribal governments to petition the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw specific tracts of federal land to protect watersheds, wildlife or scenic vistas important to local economies. It is critical that the interests of western communities whose economies rely on the protection of surrounding public land be respected by allowing them to have a voice in mining decisions that impact their fiscal and environmental health.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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Senator Jeff Bingaman
Senator Pete Domenici

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