[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 12, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A RENEWED CALL FOR MINING LAW REFORM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2004

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, an article on the front page of the May 11, 
2004, Washington Post entitled, ``All Quiet On the House Side,'' by 
Charles Babington, contrasts ``the burgeoning scandal over U.S. 
treatment of Iraqi prisoners and persistent concerns about the economy 
and the deficit'' with the seemingly limitless lack of concern for 
meaningful action here in the House on any significant issue. This 
comes as no surprise to me or, evidently, Mr. Babington.
  ``The House's lean schedule is no accident. GOP leaders who set the 
agenda and floor schedule say they achieved most of their top 
priorities last year and are content to rest on their laurels through 
the election.''
  For this reason, a great number of important issues lay by the 
wayside, collecting dust, while we convene in brief, three-day sessions 
to tackle the not-so-weighty issues of naming federal post offices, or 
designating days, weeks, or months to such non-controversial subjects 
such as ``Financial Integrity.''
  A perfect example of an opportunity squandered by the Republican 
leadership is the total lack of attention being given to the need to 
reform this country's antiquated mining laws.
  As many of my colleagues know, I have fought to reform the General 
Mining Law of 1872 for the past 17 years, and along with 
Representatives Shays and Inslee, continue to work on behalf of the 
taxpayer to ensure proper reimbursement for the natural riches mining 
companies extract from our public lands for the cost of a fast-food 
cheeseburger. Our bill, H.R. 2141, deserves consideration by the House 
Resources Committee, yet no hearings have been scheduled.
  This is not going unnoticed by the public. On Monday, May 10, 2004, 
the Environmental Working Group released a new interactive report, 
located at www.ewg.org/mining, that shows how international and 
domestic mining companies have taken control of 9.3 million acres of 
public western lands under the archaic Mining Law of 1872. On the day 
following its release, three Western newspapers ran articles focused on 
local problems resulting from the mining industry's control of Western 
public lands:
  ``Group raises red flag over old mining law'' by Michael Doyle, 
Modesto Bee.
  ``Once public land goes private'' by Robert McClure, The Seattle 
Times.
  ``Bargain-priced mining claims abound in West, figures show. Report: 
5.6 million acres staked out under 1872 law'' by Mike Soraghan, The 
Denver Post.

  H.R. 2141 does not deal with coal, or oil and gas. These energy 
minerals, if located on Federal lands, are leased by the government, 
and a royalty is charged. Further, Mining Law reform does not deal with 
private lands. The scope of the Mining Law of 1872 and legislation to 
reform it is limited to hardrock minerals such as gold, silver, lead 
and zinc on Federal lands in the Western States.
  H.R. 2141 would prohibit the continued give-away of public lands. It 
would require that a holding fee be paid for the use of the land, and 
that a royalty be paid on the production of valuable minerals extracted 
from these Federal lands. And, it would require industry to comply with 
some basic reclamation standards.
  The American public deserves a fair return from the gold, silver and 
other hardrock minerals produced from public lands and the hard rock 
mining industry should be required to meet the same environmental 
standards that all other extractive industries meet. As our 
distinguished Minority Whip, Rep. Steny Hoyer, noted on the floor 
today, ``Our constituents did not send us here to pretend to legislate. 
They sent us here to solve problems and fulfill our duty.''
  It is time, well past time, that Congress replace the 1872 Mining Law 
with one that reflects our values and goals. Please contact the 
Resources Committee Democratic staff if you would like to co-sponsor 
this important legislation.




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