Western Shoshone Lands House Republicans drop mining provision

FYI – One more good news – For now, Western Shoshone lands continue to have a buffer zone from multinational corporate privatization – let’s hope for even better things on the horizon.

Western Shoshone statement: Upon hearing the news, Raymond Yowell, Chief of the Western Shoshone National Council stated:

“This is a temporary reprieve. We are thankful for all the individuals and organizations who realized what was at stake – this was truly a multi-sector effort. Now, as for the Western Shoshone Nation, we realize these efforts have not yet ended and we continue to prepare ourselves for the continuing onslaught against our people and our ancestral and Treaty lands. Hopefully, as people across this country begin to realize what is really going on, we will build support for our indigenous struggles to protect the land, the water and the air upon which we all depend.”

House Budget November 4, 2005 - Word Document (Original Western Shoshone Defense Project Press Release for reference.)

Reno, Nevada, USA • 775-788-6200

December 14, 2005

House Republicans drop mining provision

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Posted: 12/14/2005

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans have dropped a provision in budget legislation that would have allowed the sale of public lands for mining.

Western senators had criticized the provision, which would have overturned an 11-year-old congressional ban that prevents mineral companies from "patenting," or buying, public land at cheap prices if the land contains mineral deposits.

U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Reno, author of the mining legislation, revised the provision Monday in an attempt to gain some Western support. The new version dropped language that would have allowed the direct sale of some lands that no longer contained minerals.

On Tuesday, Gibbons said it was clear that even the revised provision would not make it through the Senate, where some senators had threatened to use parliamentary maneuvers to block it.

Critics -- including hunters, anglers and several Democratic Western governors -- said the legislation could prompt the sale of millions of acres of public lands.

Gibbons, a mining lawyer before he came to Congress, said those claims were exaggerated and development would have helped boost the economy in mining towns.

"Today the democratic process has triumphed," said Elyssa Rosen, of Great Basin Mine Watch, in a statement. "Nevadans who cherish our open spaces and way of life have something to celebrate."

Rosen said mining law reform is overdue, and meaningful proposals are being considered by Congress.

"True reform will be achieved with the public's interest in mind, not just the interests of corporate powers," Rosen said.

The mining provision was included in the House version of larger budget legislation designed to cut federal spending. House and Senate negotiators are attempting to finish work on that bill this week.

U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas of Wyoming, one of the Republicans opposed to the language, said Tuesday that "the mining provision never belonged in the budget reconciliation package."

"It's important to give a voice to those who are so closely connected to our public lands," Thomas said.

A spokesman for House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo said he would work with Gibbons to modernize mining law next year.

Elyssa Rosen

Senior Policy Advisor
Great Basin Mine Watch
775-348-1986
cell 775-224-7497

Elyssa Rosen

Great Basin Mine Watch website