| | |
| |
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Statement of Jane Danowitz, Director, Pew Campaign for Responsible MiningOn Today's House Natural Resources Committee Mark Up of H.R. 2262, The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007Washington, DC — During today's first phase of mark up on H.R. 2262, The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007, a number of industry-sought amendments were offered and defeated. The full House Natural Resources Committee vote on the bill is set for Tuesday, October 23. "Chairman Rahall is standing firm today against industry efforts to derail reform. "We appear to be on track to pass a bill that will finally take away industry's free pass to mine public resources on public lands without paying taxpayers or covering clean-up costs. Americans should settle for nothing less. "Genuine reform requires that current and future mining operations pay a royalty on minerals taken from public lands, similar to fees paid by oil, gas and coal industries. It includes upholding the rights of other users of public lands, and ensures stakeholders have a say whether a mine can be permitted in sensitive places. It requires strong water pollution safeguards to ensure future mines do not create permanent pollution." # # # The Pew Campaign for Responsible Mining is a national effort, launched by The Pew Charitable Trusts, to educate and encourage the public and policymakers 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.
|