the goals of the General Mining Law of 1872 state that, anyone can stake mining claims on federal land, and they pay no more than $5 an acre while they keep 100% of profits with little to no environmental provisions.
Taxpayers pay for clean up of sites.
While the goals of proposed Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009 includes, Increasing acreage of lands off limits to exploration and development. Protecting of National Parks and National Monuments is essential. Giving land managers the ability to balance mineral activities with other uses of public land. Giving state, local and tribal government the ability to put lands off limits to mining although, this bill never became law.
