One of the least publicized reforms being scrutinized in Congress this session is the possibility of drastically rewriting the 1872 Mining Law. The law is an anachronism that doesn’t require clean up of old or abandoned mines and lets foriegn mining companies dig on federal land without paying a dime in royalties. So reform is needed. I only fear that this Congress, which to harken back to an old phrase, could screw up an anvil, might actually make the law worse.
Mining law reforms eyed
