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

The Latest:

House Calls for Emergency Ban on Grand Canyon Mining
On June 25th the House Natural Resources Committee voted to withdraw more than 1 million acres from new mining claims encroaching on the Grand Canyon and other national parks. Read a statement from Jane Danowitz, Director of the Pew Campaign for Responsible Mining

Editorial Roundup
Across the country, newspapers have been featuring editorials regarding the 1872 Mining Act and the message is clear: Senate must act now to reform this outdated law. View a roundup of these editorials including most recently hits in The New York Times and The Denver Post.

Hello?! It's Been 136 Years
On May 10^th 1872 President Ulysses S. Grant signed the General Mining Law. We have just passed yet another anniversary of this milestone, our 136^th. Little has changed since then and giant corporations are still receiving the same sweet deal. View our new ads highlighting the need for mining reform.

Senator Cantwell, Western Lawmakers Urge Swift Action
On May 8^th, the eve of the 136^th anniversary of the mining law, the Pew Campaign held a telebriefing featuring New Mexico lawmakers and key western stakeholders. Participants discussed the proliferation of new mining claims, record-breaking industry profitability, and rising cleanup costs left to taxpayers. Listen to the briefing.

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.