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By Judith Kohler
Denver, Colorado (AP)
Towns throughout the Rocky Mountain West that oppose mines near water supplies and scenic areas are backing efforts to revamp a federal law regulating hard-rock mining that’s changed little since Ulysses S. Grant was president.
A bill passed by the U.S. House in November would impose the first-ever federal royalties on gold, silver, copper and other metals mines, beef up environmental controls and give federal agencies the ability to say “No” to a mine that would irreparably harm the environment.
For many, that last part is the heart of the bill. Under the 1872 law, federal agencies can scrutinize a company’s plan and require environmental safeguards. But they can’t decide, as they can with oil and gas drilling, that no development should occur in a certain spot.
Denver, Colorado (AP)
Towns throughout the Rocky Mountain West that oppose mines near water supplies and scenic areas are backing efforts to revamp a federal law regulating hard-rock mining that’s changed little since Ulysses S. Grant was president.
A bill passed by the U.S. House in November would impose the first-ever federal royalties on gold, silver, copper and other metals mines, beef up environmental controls and give federal agencies the ability to say “No” to a mine that would irreparably harm the environment.
For many, that last part is the heart of the bill. Under the 1872 law, federal agencies can scrutinize a company’s plan and require environmental safeguards. But they can’t decide, as they can with oil and gas drilling, that no development should occur in a certain spot.
