Gordon Votes To Modernize Outdated Mining Law
November 1, 2007, WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon voted for legislation to update mining laws related to federal lands so that taxpayers no longer have to foot billions of dollars in clean-up costs while mining companies profit.
“The 1872 Mining Law needs an update,” said Gordon. “For 135 years, this law has allowed miners to extract more than $245 billion in minerals from public lands while taxpayers have been left holding tens of billions of dollars in clean-up bills.”
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 2262, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007. The bill would impose royalties on gold, silver, copper and other hardrock mining operations on federal lands to bring the industry in line with oil, natural gas and coal mining companies. The royalty revenue would go to cleaning up abandoned hardrock mines and to helping communities after mining stops.
The bill also ends the practice of “patenting” public lands to mining companies. The practice has resulted in more than $3 million acres of federal lands being sold to mining companies for as little as $2.50 to $5.00 an acre.
In addition to saving taxpayers money, Gordon said the bill would help to preserve wildlife habitat and hunting and fishing areas.
“Federal lands are home to some of the most important fish and wildlife habitats and some of the best hunting and fishing opportunities in the country,” said Gordon, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “By ending the giveaway of public lands, this bill protects wildlife habitat, as well as our hunting and fishing areas.”
