Times Change...And So Should The 1872 Mining Law

The Latest:

100,000 comments call for Grand Canyon protection
November 5, 2009
After nearly 100,00 members of the public weighed in for Grand Canyon protection, a Pew Environment Group ad in Politico called on Congress to support a bill that would permanently protect the park from new uranium mining claims.
Find out more

Take Action: Protect the Grand Canyon
August 20, 2009
The Obama administration recently took emergency action to halt temporarily new claimstaking around Grand Canyon National Park. Now, its Department of Interior is asking the public whether mining should be prohibited on a long-term basis around the park's boundaries.
Let the Interior Secretary Salazar know that mining must be prohibited around the Grand Canyon

Uranium mining at Grand Canyon halted
July 20, 2009
Today, Department of Interior Secretary Salazar announced that roughly 1 million acres around the Grand Canyon National Park will be protected from new mining claims. The action halts claimstaking under the nation's 1872 mining law that allows corporations and individuals "free and open access" to more than 350 million acres of public lands across the West.
Find out more about the withdrawal

Check out the view from Route 1872
Update: July 20, 2009
This summer, millions will vacation at our treasured national parks and forests. But these spectacular sights and natural wonders are also in the path of a Civil War-era law that gives the "hardrock" mining industry the right of way at almost every turn. The 1872 Mining Law still cuts a wide, expensive swath across the public landscape.
Buckle up and check out the view from Route 1872

Background

The cost to Americans has been high.

• The U.S. Treasury loses an estimated $100 million a year because the metal mining industry — unlike coal, oil and gas companies — can extract valuable resources from public land essentially for free.



• Taxpayers face a $50 billion cleanup bill from this industry, which releases more toxic pollution than any other.



• Claimholders can buy public land for $5 an acre or less, and use it for anything from condominiums to casinos. An area nearly the size of Connecticut has already been sold at these 1872 prices.

Worse yet, a new rush is on in the West. Over the past five years, mining claims for uranium, gold and other metals on public lands have increased almost 50%. Many of these new claims — staked largely by foreign-owned companies — lie near national treasures such as the Grand Canyon, as well as highly populated urban areas and tribal lands.

It's time to reform the 1872 Mining Act and reclaim our public lands for future generations.