America's public lands — and the fish and wildlife that they call home — are struggling with the effects of a century of hardrock mining. Recognizing that an outdated federal law is to blame for much of the damage, America's sportsmen and conservationists have for decades set their sights on reforming the 1872 Mining Law.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW:

On April 2nd, Senate Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman introduced legislation aimed at modernizing the 1872 mining law -- the "Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009" (S. 796). The Senate Energy Committee plans to take up this legislation on July 14th. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar also supports reform of the legislation, stating that "There is a new administration in town, and we do want to get the 1872 mining law reformed. We are committed to that and are committed to deploying significant resources from the Department of Interior to get this done."

Ask your Senators to support this historic bill...

Read more about the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009...

Fisher Creek, MT Earthworks

BACKGROUND:

The 1872 Mining Law, which governs hardrock mining (gold, copper, silver, etc.) on America's public lands, was signed into law more than a century ago. When the Mining Law was passed, following the California gold rush, Congress was trying to encourage settlement of the American West by offering free minerals and land to those who were willing to settle out West and mine. While the economies, cultures, and politics have changed in the West during the past 137 years, the mining law has not. Currently, mining companies are allowed to buy up America's public lands for $5 or less per acre. Additionally, the mining industry, unlike coal and oil companies, is not required to pay production royalties or rental fees for the use of public land, and there are few environmental standards or requirements governing cleanup. In fact, hardrock mining pours more toxics into the environment than any other industry in the country - 28 percent of the total according to an estimate by the Environmental Protection Agency. Nationally, hardrock mining has polluted 3,400 miles of streams and 440,000 acres of land, according to the EPA. The current law also allows mining to take precedence over protecting public land for wildlife habitat, clean water, hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation.

Over the past couple decades, reform to the Mining Law has been ongoing but the law has still yet to be meaningfully altered. Because of this, many of America's most treasured public lands are at risk, including important wildlife habitat and hunting areas, valuable fisheries, popular recreation sites, vital municipal water supplies, and sensitive roadless areas.

With more than 270 million acres of federal land are open to hardrock mining under the law, it's vital that we modernize this law to ensure that a 21st century mining industry is no longer governed by a 19th century law.

LEARN MORE:

• Read a related article from the New York Times
• Sportsmen United for Sensible Mining Website
• Read Sensible Solutions: Balancing Hardrock Mining with Fish and Wildlife Resources in the West.