The House passes badly needed mining reform – and Congressman Rehberg votes against it!

On November 1st, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 (H.R. 2262) “to drag the 1872 Mining Act into the 21st century” as stated by the bill’s sponsor, Congressman Nick Rahall (D-W. VA).

Unfortunately, Montana’s congressman, Dennis Rehberg, is stuck in the past on this issue.  Rehberg voted against reforming the archaic 1872 Mining Law, which has not been altered since President Ulysses S. Grant signed it into law 135 years ago!

For a record of Congressman Rehberg’s and the entire U.S. House of Representatives’ actions on this bill, visit: www.thomas.loc.gov/HR2262

The bill moved onto the Senate on November 5th, and would finally cease the public lands giveaways that have long been enjoyed by mining companies at the expense of American taxpayers. 

According to the Montana Environmental Information Center, H.R. 2262 would:

• end “patenting”, the process of buying federal, public land for less than $5.00 per acre; 
• establish an 8 percent royalty on minerals taken from public lands (in 2000 this would have raised $79 million); 
• require reclamation bonds for metal mines and establish clear cleanup standards. 

Furthermore, HR 2262 would establish a fund to clean up abandoned mines.  As stated on the Montana Environmental Information Center’s website, mining pollution affects more than 40 percent of western headwater streams.  It is estimated that more than 50,000 abandoned hardrock mines remain in the U.S, with the cost of cleanup estimated between $32 and 72 billion.  However, no money is currently available to address the problem. 

Two-thirds of the royalty money in HR 2262 is dedicated to an “abandoned mine cleanup fund”.  The government has lost more than $245 million in royalties on minerals since the 1872 Mining Law was passed over a century ago.  

The 1872 Mining Act has resulted in a legacy of pollution throughout much of the West, including Montana.  H.R. 2262 would positively impact up to 270 million acres of public lands and offers a real opportunity to reverse the damaging legacy of uncontrolled mining. 

As Representative Rahall, the bill’s sponsor, put it, “It is far past the time for responsible reform of the Jurassic Park of all federal laws.” 

On November 5th,  H.R. 2262 moved to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, on which Senator Jon Tester serves.  When Congress reconvenes after its Thanksgiving recess, the Senate will likely take action on the legislation.  Past attempts to improve the mining law have stalled in the Senate and we’re depending on Montana’s delegation to help lead the way on this long awaited reform!

Please contact Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester and ask them to support long-overdue mining reform. 

We need our senators to vote for H.R. 2262 and help protect Montana’s air, water and lands from mining pollution.  Please contact both senators today and ask them to support for H.R. 2262!

For More Information:

Montana Environmental Information Center:    www.meic.org

League of Conservation Voters:     www.lcv.org

National Environmental Trust :     www.net.org/mining

Sierra Club:        www.sierraclub.org

Western Organization of Resource Councils   www.worc.org