Support Obama's Mining Reforms
Mining for hardrock minerals -- like uranium and gold-- on public land is governed by a 19th century mining law. So 21st century mining companies still get public minerals for free, and they don't have to comply with environmental rules that even coal miners must.
The legacy: polluted water, compromised public health, and hundreds of billions in corporate giveaways.
But finally, President Obama -- in his 2012 budget -- has proposed real reforms.
Land managers would be able to decide when and where mining takes place on public land, and miners would have to pay a fair return to taxpayers for mining public minerals.
The funds generated would pay for cleanup of the mining messes of the past at some of the 500,000 abandoned hardrock mines, including uranium mines.
It's time to stop the corporate giveaways to hardrock mining companies and make Obama's reforms a reality. Tell President Obama to make these changes in mining policy a top administrative priority!
Dear President Obama,
Thank you for including important mining reforms as part of your FY2012 budget. The mining industry has been operating under the antiquated 1872 Mining Law for too long, leaving an estimated $50 billion in abandoned mines clean up costs and land managers with little ability to protect public lands from mining impacts.
Your proposals would change the way that hardrock mining companies operate in the United States for the better. The reforms would give land managers the discretion to decide when and how mines operate on public lands and create a steady source of funding to clean up our nation's abandoned mines.
I urge you to make reforming the hardrock mining industry a priority for your administration. Legislative fixes are needed to move mining reform forward, and you must take the lead in drafting legislation and advancing these important issues in Congress.
