Grijalva launches reform of 1872 Mining Act

The Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming are not the only public lands plundered by foreign companies under cover of The General Mining Act of 1872.

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raul Grijalva (D-AZ-3) today introduced the Hardrock Mining Reform and Reclamation Act of 2015 that would rewrite the 19th century law governing the mining of gold, copper, uranium and other hardrock minerals on federally managed lands. "Representative Grijalva’s bill would bring 19th century mining law into the 21st century," said Aaron Mintzes, Policy Advocate of the Washington, D.C.-based conservation group Earthworks. "If it becomes law it would bring badly needed reforms that work for western communities, taxpayers, the environment, and responsible mining companies." [press release, Earthworks]