Pew Campaign for Responsible Mining

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2007

CONTACT:
Kymberly Escobar, 202-887-8814

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

On Today’s House Natural Resources Committee Vote on H.R. 2262, The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007.

Washington, DC — Despite opposition from many in the industry, Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV) and the House Committee on Natural Resources today passed the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007, which reforms the federal law that has governed the mining of gold, uranium and other hardrock minerals on public lands in the West for more than 135 years. The full house is expected to vote on this bill in the coming weeks.

"We are pleased Chairman Rahall took the first step in what could be an historic effort to modernize what has become one of the most anti-environmental laws on the books today.

"We appear to be on track to pass a bill in the House that may protect special places and finally require a profitable industry to pay the piper for the mess it has made — and continues to make - on public lands."

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Background

This reform package includes:

Protecting taxpayers by setting a royalty for all mining operations - current and future -- comparable to those paid by other extractive industries. Proceeds will be used to clean up abandoned mines and correct water contamination.
Ending hardrock mining’s special status on many public lands that gives it priority over conservation and recreation.
Conserving valuable fish & wildlife habitat by placing national forest roadless areas and other special places "off limits" to new mining claims.
Preserving water quality and preventing perpetual pollution.
Allowing state, county and tribal governments to submit petitions to protect important lands from new mining claims.

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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 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. www.PewMiningReform.org