Calling D.C. - Bid Farewell to the 1872 Mining Law

Farewell 1872 Call In Day - Wednesday, April 16th

Call on Members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Take Action on Mining Reform Now

Don’t Let Another Year Go By!

In less than 30 days, the nation’s Civil War era mining law will have been on the books for 136 years without change since it was signed by Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. 

The law gives mining of uranium, gold and other “hardrock” minerals priority status on many public lands in the West -regardless of its impact on water and wildlife or proximity to natural treasures like the Grand Canyon. 

It still allows the mining industry to take precious metals from public lands basically for free, unlike oil and gas companies that are required to compensate taxpayers for resources taken. 

According to the federal government, hardrock mining has contaminated 40 % of western watersheds and could cost $50 billion or more to clean up.

Last fall, the House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation that would modernize the 1872 law and provide meaningful protections to the environment and taxpayers.   The Senate is currently drafting its own reform bill, but allies of the mining industries are dragging their feet.

Please contact your Senator – Senator Tester at 202-224-2644 and Senator Baucus at 202-224-2651.   Ask them to move quickly to pass a meaningful mining reform bill before the 1872 Mining Law’s anniversary on May 10.

Hello, this is _______________ from [town, state]. I am calling because we urgently need Senator Tester’s/Baucus’ leadership  now to  protect our water and wildlifeby modernizing the nation’s hardrock mining law, which has gone virtually unchanged since it was signed by Ulysses S Grant in 1872.

Mining reform legislation has already passed the House, so this is the best time in more than a decade to update policy that still gives mining on western  public lands priority over conservation/recreation and all other uses. 

We urge Senator Tester/Baucus and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee not to let another year go by without action by passing meaningful reform legislation before May 10 - the mining law’s 136th anniversary.

Thank you very much.