FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 17, 2007
For More Information:
Sarah Luna, Coordinator, ACP
480-205-3809
Brad Powell, TU, 480-300-5451
House Committee Hears Testimony on Mining Law Reform
Key votes expected on royalty requirement to fund abandoned mine cleanup.
(Washington) The House Committee on Natural Resources meets in open markup session on Thursday, October 18, to consider H.R. 2262, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007. The legislation updates the Mining Law of 1872 to require companies mining on federal lands to pay royalties for the extraction of valuable minerals, such as gold, silver, and copper, among other provisions.
What: Natural Resources Committee Markup
Committee on Natural Resources
When: October 18, 2007 at 100:00 am
Where: Room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC
The markup will be webcast live on the Committee's website at:
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/
Hard rock mining pollutes more than 40% of western headwater streams and it is estimated that there are more than 100,000 abandoned hard rock mines in Arizona alone. The cost estimate for cleaning up these mines is between $32 and $72 billion. H.R. 2262 establishes an 8% royalty on minerals taken from public lands and 2/3rds of the money collected will go to the abandoned mine cleanup fund.
"Arizona's public lands are littered with thousands of abandoned mines that degrade water quality in headwater streams and threaten fish, wildlife and human health...the new law will mean that money is available to clean up abandoned mines and that citizens are part of the decision making process, "said Brad Powell, Arizona Public Lands Coordinator, Trout Unlimited.
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