Take Action: Urge Your Representative to Vote for HR 2262
Click the pic to see a cartoon showing why that dastardly villain, the 1872 Mining Law, needs to be reformed.
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This Halloween, the entire House of Representatives will vote on real mining law reform for the first time in more than 10 years.
Please take action today!
Communities, taxpayers and the environment need your help. Tell your Representative to vote for HR2262, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007.
Haunted by a 19th century law
The 1872 Mining Law was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant -- before women had the vote, before the invention of the light bulb, before environmental protection was a consideration, before multinational mining corporations.
It's a 19th century law that's out of step with 21st century America. The 1872 Mining Law:
- Pollutes clean water.
In part because the Mining Law contains no environmental protection provisions, 40% of the headwaters of western watersheds have been polluted by mining.
- Puts special places at risk.
For example, a US Forest Supervisor is on record saying that, because of the 1872 Mining Law, he can't deny a mine proposed directly beneath a declared Wilderness Area.
- Rips off taxpayers.
Since 1872, the Mining Law has forced taxpayers to give away more than $245 billion in publicly owned minerals. Oil/gas/coal miners pay anywhere from 8 to 16.7% of the value of minerals they take from public lands.
HR 2262 would fix these problems and more. It brings a 19th century law into the 21st... a task that is long overdue.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION. Tell your Representative that 21st century mining companies need a 21st century mining law -- ask them to vote for HR 2262, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007.
Thanks,
Lauren Pagel & Alan Septoff, EARTHWORKS
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