The Obama admisitration is committed to rewriting a 137-year-old U.S. law that gives mining preference on public lands, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told a Senate committee on Tuesday.
The General Mining Act of 1872 does not require mining companies to pay royalties on gold, silver, copper and other hardrock minerals mined on public land. Many of these abandoned mines contribute to surface water pollution.
Previous attempts to reform the law have been overcome by industry opposition represented by Western lawmakers, according to an Associated Press report. But a new generation of environmentally minded Western legislators are likely to support changes.
Salazar told the committee, "It is time to ensure a fair return to the public for mining activities that occur on public lands and to address the cleanup of abandoned mines."
Read the full report at the link below.
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