Democracy Rules

Each year, hardrock miners use millions of gallons of cyanide to extract metals such as gold, copper and zinc from rock and ore. Hundreds of tons of cyanide are sometimes needed at a single site to carry out this process. Using the open-pit method, ore is piled into pits and sprayed with cyanide to separate metal from rock. The resulting cyanide ponds often result in leakage or spillage which may contaminate surrounding watersheds. Other methods immerse ore into cyanide-filled tanks which are less prone to releases. However, just one teaspoon of a 2% cyanide solution can kill a person while smaller doses can kill wildlife and fish. Since 1970, it is estimated that accidents by our hard-rock mining industry have resulted in billions of gallons of cyanide being leaked and spilled into the environment. Often, local hazardous waste laws do not regulate the use of such large amounts of this highly toxic substance.

Advocates claim the use, transport and disposal of millions of gallons of cyanide hold disastrous potential for many American communities. Such accidents have destroyed entire river ecosystems in Idaho, Montana and Colorado when this deadly chemical breeched containment. The 2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill was an environmental disaster, caused by an overflow of a holding pond, that spilled three million gallons of mine waste water and tailings including cadmium, lead, arsenic, beryllium, zinc, iron and copper into Colorado River watershed. Since 1990, releases of cyanide from mining accidents have most often occurred from tailings-dam mishaps (76%), followed by pipeline failures (18%) and transportation accidents (6%). The EPA estimates that 40% of the watersheds in the western United States are contaminated by pollution from hard rock mines.

Proposed legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.2579 - Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ)

I oppose reforming current hardrock mining policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
I support replacing the Mining Law of 1872 with a modern leasing system designed to protect taxpayers and public lands by: 1.) Ending the outdated claim-staking and patenting system that gives miners unfettered access to nearly all public land. 2.) Establishing a 12.5% royalty on new mining operations – the same amount as oil and gas – and an 8% royalty on existing operations, except for miners with less than $50,000 in mining income. 3.) Making certain special lands off-limits to hardrock mining. 4.) Requiring mining operators to report data on the amount and value of minerals being extracted from public lands. 5.) Establish strong reclamation standards and bonding requirements. 6.) Creating a fund to reclaim and restore abandoned mines and areas impacted by mining activities. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Winning Option »» No issues were voted

I support replacing the Mining Law of 1872 with a modern leasing system designed to protect taxpayers and public lands by: 1.) Ending the outdated claim-staking and patenting system that gives miners unfettered access to nearly all public land. 2.) Establishing a 12.5% royalty on new mining operations – the same amount as oil and gas – and an 8% royalty on existing operations, except for miners with less than $50,000 in mining income. 3.) Making certain special lands off-limits to hardrock mining. 4.) Requiring mining operators to report data on the amount and value of minerals being extracted from public lands. 5.) Establish strong reclamation standards and bonding requirements. 6.) Creating a fund to reclaim and restore abandoned mines and areas impacted by mining activities. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.