Mining
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The U.S. House of Representative may be close to passing long overdue reforms to the 1872 mining law. Many in the Boise, Idaho area [Treasure Valley] are hoping for changes that will stop the proposed pit mines Canadian mining companies want to excavate upstream at Atlanta, Idaho and other places in the central Idaho mountains.…
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Groups have been trying to reform this for a couple generations. Bush has said he will veto it. House panel OKs bill imposing mining royalties. By Noelle Straub. Billings Gazette Washington Bureau Instead of the old nearly free mining clam/patent system, mining operations would have to pay a royalty on “hard rock minerals” like gold,…
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More Nevada gold mines spew more toxic mercury than they reported. By Rocky Barker. Idaho Statesman. Three years ago hardly anyone thought of this, but the fact is southern Idaho waters and part of Utah too is being poisoned by the emissions from the rapidly growing number of open pit gold mines in Nevada. Recent…
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The antiquated 1872 mining act is not just a rip off of the taxpayer, but with rising mineral prices, it is a great threat to our most scenic areas because that law says mining always comes first, and thousands of claims are being staked. Here is an article from the LA Times, and you can…
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Otter: Pollution trading program still unfit for Idaho. The governor also wants the DEQ [Dept of Environmental Quality] to expand its efforts with surrounding states to reduce mercury emissions. By Rocky Barker. Idaho Statesman. Gov. Butch Otter wants to keep Idaho out of a mercury pollution trading program promoted by the Bush Administration. The program…
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Forest Service to decide on uranium exploration this month. Challis Messinger. By Todd Adams. “Forest Service officials probably will approve a drilling project to explore for uranium in the Harden Creek area between Sunbeam and Stanley, . . . “
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Mining law may be overhauled to protect public lands. By Jennifer Talhelm. Associated Press. “The Bush administration opposes the House bill, arguing that it would hurt small Western communities that depend on mining.” Even the mining industry knows change is badly needed. This Administration uses the stupidest, most primitive arguments on issue after issue. IMO.
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Ravaging Appalachia. Editorial by the New York Times.