America's 137-Year-Old Mining Law Outdated, Provides Little Accountabiliy, Salazar Notes

[hatrack]

:silly:

No shit.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar took on the nation’s 137-year-old mining law yesterday, calling on Congress to levy “reasonable” royalty payments on hardrock minerals.

Speaking before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Salazar — a former U.S. Senator from Colorado — said the 19th century General Mining Act is antiquated and provides for little accountability in the area of clean-up and reclamation of abandoned mines.

“While the responsible development of our mineral resources is critical to both our economy and our environment, this statute has not been updated in 137 years,” Salazar told the Senate committee. “In those years, much has changed. 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.”

Over the past 137 years, hundreds of thousands of mines have been left abandoned, polluting water sources throughout the West. Salazar is also concerned that mining companies do not pay royalties on hardrock minerals like gold and silver.

EDIT

http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=4919