WASHINGTON , D.C. , May 15, 2003-An outdated federal law that wastes taxpayer funds, permits massive toxic pollution and endangers public health would finally get a facelift under a new bipartisan bill introduced today by Reps. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Jay Inslee (D-WA).

The General Mining Law of 1872 marks its 131st year without any revision or amendment this week. It governs all hardrock mining-extraction of gold, silver, uranium and other precious metals and minerals-on federal public lands such as those managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Supported by a diverse group of 43 organizations, the Mineral Exploration and Development Act would promote corporate responsibility and reduce toxic pollution by overhauling this outdated law. “Every year, taxpayers give mining corporations a massive pirate’s booty of gold and other precious metals for free,” said Jill Lancelot, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense. “This legislation would ensure an equitable return for this publicly-owned natural resource.”

This antiquated law allows companies to purchase public lands at 1872 prices-$2.50 to $5.00 per acre. While coal, oil and gas companies pay taxpayers 8% to 12.5% in royalties for mining on public lands, hardrock mining companies make no return to taxpayers at all. Mines also are given priority on these lands under law, even when they are likely to damage clean water, clean air, public health, wildlife and other values.

Yet no clean-up, pollution or public health standards exist under the 1872 Mining Law-often leaving taxpayers with staggering costs to clean toxic mine waste from water and land. Multinational mining companies released 3.4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals in the U.S. in 2000-including 454 million pounds of arsenic, 308 million pounds of lead and 3 million pounds of mercury.

Hardrock mining is rated the nation’s top toxic polluter by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based on the industry’s own pollution reports. Sections of 40 percent of the headwaters of western watersheds also are polluted by hardrock mining activities, according to the EPA.

The Mineral Exploration and Development Act would fix these problems by:

• Compensating U.S. taxpayers with a royalty for precious metals taken from public lands; · Setting strong standards to protect water resources from toxic mine waste;
• Protecting national parks and other special places by allowing officials to deny mines that threaten clean water, recreation and other values; and
• Allowing meaningful public input from communities and water users affected by proposed mines.

“Millions of Americans represented by the groups endorsing this bill care about clean water, taxpayer protection and ending industry excesses allowed under the 1872 mining law,” said Lexi Shultz, legislative director for Mineral Policy Center .