Pew Campaign for Responsible Mining

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2007

CONTACT:
Kymberly Escobar, 202-887-8814

Statement from Jane Danowitz, Director, Pew Campaign for Responsible Mining

On Today's Hearing On 1872 Mining Law Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 2262, The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007. This bill, introduced in May by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), would reform a pioneer-era statute that for 135 years has governed the mining of gold, uranium and other metals on public lands in the West.

"The skyrocketing claims, costs and clean-ups reported today underscore the need for Congress to reform the country's woefully outdated mining statute, which predates the invention of light bulbs and rotary dial telephones."

"A broad swath of public lands would still be mismanaged under recommendations from the Bush Administration and industry. Congress should accept no imitation — genuine reform of this antiquated law is needed — and needed now."

"The Bush Administration's idea of putting existing claims off limits to royalties, based on so-called constitutional issues, is baffling. The proposed royalty would apply to new production only; reaching back to tax past production is not what's on the table here."

"The administration says that no new environmental standards are needed, but EPA's Inspector General and GAO point out deficiencies in hard rock mining regulation. In fact, EPA has indicated hard rock mining's cleanup failures as a significant drain on scarce Superfund dollars."

"Senators may cross the aisle — but they rarely cross the Capitol to testify. Senator Craig's engagement today signals that the Congress and the mining industry are fully engaged in the dialogue on mining reform for the first time in more than a decade."

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The Pew Campaign for Responsible Mining is a national effort, launched by The Pew Charitable Trusts, to educate and encourage the public and policy makers to adopt a modern framework for mining in the West. The Pew Campaign is working with a diverse group of stakeholders toward responsible reform to reclaim our public lands for future generations.