[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 5, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  CONFERENCE COMMITTEE CONCLUDES WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION ON MINING LAW

  Mr. JOHNSTON. Mr. President, legislation to reform the Mining Law of 
1872 has been in conference committee since May of this year. I regret 
that, as chairman of the conference, I must inform the Senate and the 
public that the conference has concluded without the conferees 
reporting a recommendation.
  Reform of the Mining Law of 1872 has a long and controversial 
history. This latest attempt to reform the law began in 1987. In May of 
this year, after the appointment of conferees, and in an attempt to 
reconcile the disparate interests, I put together a chairman's mark. My 
goal was to provide for a fair return to the public for federally owned 
minerals and to increase environmental protection, but in a manner that 
would not shut down mines and cause job losses.
  During the ensuing negotiations with all parties, I drafted numerous 
proposals in an attempt to find a compromise. These attempts ended last 
week when it became apparent that the mining industry could not accept 
the latest proposal. In a meeting with the Senate conferees on 
Thursday, September 29, 1994, I and all of the Senate conferees 
declared that efforts to reform the Mining Law of 1872 were ended for 
the year. The 103d Congress will adjourn sine die without having 
enacted reform. I regret this, and anticipate that further attempts to 
update this law will be made in the 104th Congress.

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