October 21, 1999

HOUSE FOLDS ON INTERIOR BILL ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL RIDERS

CLINTON-GORE FOLLOW-THROUGH ON VETO PROMISE AWAITED

TWO MINING RIDERS ON BILL WOULD WEAKEN 1872 MINING LAW, LEAVE TAXPAYERS

LIABLE FOR MINING INDUSTRY MESSES

(Washington, D.C.) Today the House of Representatives passed, by a 225 to 200 vote, an FY2000 Interior Appropriations bill laden with anti-environmental riders, including two egregious mining riders that would:

* weaken environmental and taxpayer protections from irresponsible mining, and

* legalize unlimited mine waste dumping on public lands.

Clinton-Gore Environmental Legacy At Stake

Though the bill passed, the House demonstrated sufficient support to sustain a Presidential veto. Coupled with President Clinton's repeated threat to veto the bill, the House vote combines to test the Clinton-Gore administration's true environmental integrity. Although on record as supporting greater taxpayer and environmental protection against irresponsible mining, if this bill were signed into law, Clinton and Gore would have the dubious honor of being the first Presidential administration in history to weaken the antiquated 1872 Mining Law.

Unlimited Toxic Mine Waste Dumping?

One anti-environmental mining rider would legalize unlimited mine waste dumping on public lands. In doing so, it would weaken the 1872 Mining Law, a law that is already the poster child for corporate welfare. Since its passage 127 years ago, the mining law has given the mining industry over $240 billion in taxpayer-owned minerals, and left taxpayers to shoulder a $32-72 billion dollar burden to clean up polluting abandoned mines. By voting for passage, the House voted to weaken the mining law to satisfy industry interests, leaving taxpayers and the environment to bear the consequences.

Another Block to Stronger Taxpayer & Environmental Protections Against Irresponsible Mining

A second stealth mining rider would delay, for the 4th time in 3 years, reform of federal environmental mining regulations on public lands. Draft regulations were issued in February, and, sans rider, final regulations are scheduled for release in 4 months. The rider, added in conference without debate, would delay issuance of these stronger environmental protections until at least October 1st, 2000 and calls for the Clinton Administration to devise a plan to implement regulatory recommendations by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Most of the NAS recommendations are already included in the draft rule that the rider prevents.

Reacting to the riders during debate on the House floor, Representative Jay Inslee (D-1-WA) predicted, "I think Americans are going to be angry, because nothing outrages the American people more than giveaways to special interests. This is an abject retreat on mining reform- we should not put up the white flag." Said Alan Septoff, Mineral Policy Center's Reform Campaign Director, "with this vote, the House has passed the environmental buck to the President. If Clinton-Gore want to leave a positive environmental legacy, if they don't want to be the first administration in 127 years to weaken the 1872 Mining Law, they will veto this bill."

Mineral Policy Center (MPC) is the leading environmental organization working to protect communities and the environment from the impacts of hardrock mining.

===Mineral Policy Center Working to Protect Communities and the Environment===

1612 K St., NW, Suite 808 Washington, D.C. 20006

202-887-1872 (ph) / 202-887-1875 (fax)

web: www.mineralpolicy.org / email: mpc@mineralpolicy.org

Contact: Alan Septoff, 202.887.1872

back to news release list

Our Mission	Our Vision	The Place	The Threat
OHBC on the Road	How to Order	How to Help Us	Links

E Mail OHBC POB 433, Tonasket, WA 98855 509-485-3912