Dangerous 1872 Mining Law, still in place today

Lay the Reckless 1872 Mining Law to Rest!

The 1872 Mining Law was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant – before women could vote, before the invention of the light bulb, before environmental protection was even a consideration. It’s past time the 19th century mining law caught up with 21st Century. >> The 1872 Mining Law, still in place today: Pollutes clean water. It contains no environmental protection provisions. Because of the reckless law, mining has polluted 40 percent of the headwaters of western watersheds. Puts special places at risk. A U.S. Forest Supervisor claims 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. It's time to lay the 135-year-old law to rest and replace it with a law that meets the needs of today! The time for the 1872 Mining Law has come and gone. It was passed to encourage the settlement and development of the western United States. The west is settled. Now we need to protect the people who settled there. House Natural Resources Committee Chair Nick Rahall and Jim Costa, Energy and Minerals Subcommittee Chair, introduced a mining reform bill that would fix these problems and more. Urge your Representative to cosponsor HR2262, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 >> Thank you for helping protect residents and the environment from the effects of an outdated law. Sincerely, Breeana L. Care2 Campaign Team