Action Grams
Time Ripens for Sportsmen to help... Reforms of the 1872 Mining Act Introduced in US House in February, Senate this week, April 9, 2009
Congress is finally headed the right direction; the US House had introduced HR 699 sponsored by Nick Rahall of West Virginia, now Senator Jeff Bingaman has introduced the companion bill in the Senate Energy Committee, S. 796!! (for complete article, click here)
The General Mining Law, along with the Homestead Act of 1862 and the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862, all served to settle the West by providing incentives - giving newly conquered Indian land away - for the price of your labor. Our government, less than a century old, was cash poor and land rich, so it seemed the most direct route to a settled continent. The Homestead and Railroad acts have now passed into history but not the General Mining Law of 1872.
As sportsmen, we continue to deal with the costs associated with the 1872 Mining Act like when the Golden Anchor mine blew out on the Little Blackfoot River west of Helena this November. We spend our outdoor time enjoying our public lands yet the stream bottoms are often private thanks to the “patenting” of mining claims into private lands, not to mention the straightening of those same streams and their fish quality impacted or even killed by acid produced when iron compounds mix with air and water. Much of what we see today across the landscape of Montana can be attributed to forging ahead without considering the long-term cost.
Land managers should be given effective tools to balance the need for mineral development with the overall health of the resource; the agencies are often crippled by conflicting processes. They deserve that and so do we.
PLEASE encourage Representative Rehberg to cooperate with these efforts in the House and pass HR 699; he will be a hard sell but hopefully will accommodate the will of sportsmen. Senator Baucus and Senator Tester already know from your past emails, letters, and phonecalls that sportsmen believe it's time to bring the 1872 Mining Act into the 21st century . S. 796 is on the move, encourage them to take a proactive approach to bringing the 1872 Mining Act into the 21st century.
Four specific areas need revision.
• Assess a royalty from any minerals taken from public lands to fund fish and conservation programs and abandoned mine reclamation;
• Strengthen protections against mining impacts to benefit fish, wildlife and waters;
• Allow "good Samaritans" common-sense incentives to reclaim mining wastes without incurring undue liability;
• Prohibit the patenting or sale of public lands under the Mining Law.
Thank You for stepping up for Montana's wildlife, lands, waters, and our hunting/angling heritage.
Senator Max Baucus
511 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2651
From Montana: (800) 332-6106
E-Mail: max@baucus.senate.gov
Website: http://baucus.senate.gov/
Senator Jon Tester
204 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2604
(202) 224-2644
(202) 224-8594 (fax)
(866) 554-4403 (toll-free)
E-Mail: rjt@tester.senate.gov
Website: http://tester.senate.gov/
Representative Dennis Rehberg
516 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3211
(202) 225-5687 (fax)
E-Mail: denny.rehberg@mail.house.gov
Website: www.house.gov/rehberg/
For your voting district and your Senator and Representative in the Montana Legislature, click here: Montana Legislative Districts
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