Few people know about the law. Since 1872, mineral extraction from the public lands of the United States has been governed by a law designed to make it easy for miners to get minerals out. The law is essentially unchanged, though some mining operations are now bound by other laws to protect the environment and other uses of public lands, such as grazing, tourism, scientific study, wood production, grazing, wildlife management and hunting.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources opens hearings on reforming the law next Thursday, September 27. The hearing will be webcast, most likely.
The House of Representatives has already had a couple of field hearings.
Watch your claims!
Resources:
- Salt Lake Tribune editorial calling for reform of the law, August 22, 2007
- Mining industry boosts its Washington lobby efforts
- Washington Post op-ed calling for protection from mining abuses; Jane Danowitz directs the Pew Environment Group’s Campaign for Responsible Mining. Richard Wiles is executive director of the Environmental Working Group.
- Summit Daily News (Colorado) editorial, “Mining’s tainted legacy”
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 
[…] “1872 Mining Act – amend it now?” […]
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[…] Times backs overhaul of mining law Congress seriously considers changes in mining laws in the U.S. — the General Mining Act of 1872 is 135 years old with no serious changes since […]
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