EARTHWORKS

General Mining Law of 1872

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Barrick's Golden Sunlight mine in Montana, which will drain acid for hundreds of years, typifies the modern mining industry that has overwhelmed the 19th century Mining Law

A law passed to settle the West

The 1872 Mining Law was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant. It was passed to promote the development and settlement of publicly-owned lands in the western United States.

A law that rips off taxpayers

The Mining Law promotes development by allowing mining interests to --

A law with a heavy environmental price

19th century America wasn't concerned with environmental protection. So the mining law doesn't contain environmental protection provisions. Communities and environments have paid the price.

One result: hundreds of thousands of abandoned mines.

According to Earthworks' estimates, it will cost taxpayers between $32-72 billion to clean up these mines. And taxpayers are potentially liable for billions more in cleanup costs at currently operating mines.

Another result: according to the Environmental Protection Agency, 40% of the headwaters of western U.S. watersheds have been polluted by mining.

A law that trumps all other land uses

The Mining Law has been historically interpreted to trump all other potential uses of public lands. If you hold a mining claim, that claim is treated as a right-to-mine by the federal government. The federal government is on record as saying that they cannot say no to mining proposals.

Even if those proposals threaten some of America's most special places. Even if those proposals pollute clean water.

A law in need of reform

It's the 21st century. The western U.S. is developed. And settled. Now we need to take care of the people (and communities) that settled there.

The way forward

Earthworks is working to reform this archaic law to better protect taxpayers, communities and the environment. We work with federal, state and local government, the mining industry, and impacted communities.


For more information:

Tagged with: mining reform, 1872 mining law

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