The 1872 Mining Law desperately needs reform. This law governs hard rock mining on all Federal public lands in the United States. The increasing demand for electricity and emerging technology calls for more production of raw mineral materials. Across Idaho and the mountain west, this demand has meant a dramatic uptick in mineral exploration and renewed interest in projects and deposits that have been mothballed for years. If we are to have an equitable and just increase in production to meet these growing demands, it is imperative that the laws that govern mining on our public lands receive long-overdue reforms to meet the modern era.
This outdated law has been essentially unchanged since it was initially signed over 150-years ago. Enshrined within this problematic law are numerous handouts and loopholes that mining companies happily take advantage of that leave our public lands devastated and taxpayers footing the bill for clean up, mitigation, and water treatment that is in many cases never ending. Modern industrial mining looks nothing like it did when lawmakers signed the original law. Today, mountains are moved, streams rerouted, habitats are forever altered, and tons of toxic tailings are impounded behind dams that will inevitably fail.
Add your voice to our growing petition demanding meaningful reform to this problematic law.
For more information visit www.idahorivers.org/mining