Abandoned Mines In Arizona - Sample Letter to the Editor

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Dear Editor:

I'm writing in response to a recent AZ REPUBLIC editorial, "100,000 booby traps," and the numerous other articles which have appeared in papers across Arizona related to the tragic death of a 13-year-old girl in an abandoned mine shaft.

Arizona has seen multiple deaths and injuries from the scars and hazards of abandoned mines over the years. In addition, abandoned mines pose significant threats to our water, land and wildlife. Though articles mention time and again the limited state resources available to deal with this serious public threat, they fail to mention another key problem.

Many of the estimated half a million abandoned mines sites in the country (including many of Arizona's estimated 100,000) are on public lands and there is currently no national program to find and fix these threats. Why? Because the law governing all aspects of hard rock mining was written in 1872 and it has changed very little since.

Legislation now being considered by Congress will bring the law governing hard rock mining to today's standards. Included in H.R. 2262, offered by Congressman Nick Rahall and cosponsored by Arizona's Congressman Raul Grijalva, is a fund to cleanup abandoned hard rock mines on public lands. The cleanup program will be funded from a modest 8% royalty on hard rock mining on public lands.

All of Arizona's legislators should co-sponsor and work for quick action on H.R. 2262. Rikki Howard's death in an abandoned mine shaft is a tragedy that should not have happened and should not be repeated - in Arizona or elsewhere. It is past time for Arizona and the nation to act.

Sincerely,


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