I felt it was time to share with our readers some updates on key issues which apply to mining interests, among others. These are subjects we have discussed in the past and are being actively debated in Congress. Mining Law Change In The Works The big surprise is the introduction of a bill which seeks to a revise the General Mining Law of 1872.1 had not even heard of this proposed law being introduced into the queue until a month ago. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-WV, has introduced HR 2141, the "Mineral Exploration and Development Act of 2003, along with support of 18 of the most liberal members of Congress. Says Rep. Rahall in his introductory speech on the floor of Congress on May 15, 2003 when it was introduced, "This legislation will overhaul an antiquated statute... that contains no environmental protection provisions governing the mining of hardrock miner als such as platinum, gold, silver, and copper on public domain...(a law) that prevents the federal government from stopping ill-advised proposed mines (read that "all mines"), and has left the headwaters of 40 percent of western waterways polluted by mining." He goes on to bemoan how little money mining companies are required to pay the government for use of such lands, calling it a "mining industry ripoff." Please note that all legislators who have proposed changes to the Mining Law of 1872 have sought to increase funding from mining interests and few mining firms have objected to some increases, recognizing that they have had rock-bottom prices for quite some time.
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