Maitland
Full Member
- Mar 15, 2010
- 172
- 159
- Detector(s) used
- White's Silver Eagle, Fisher Gold Bug 2
- Primary Interest:
- Prospecting
The BLM's 2015 budget, and the Mining Law of 1872
Has anyone read the BLM's budget proposal for 2015? From what I gather, it looks like they want to do away with some of the most important aspects of our Mining Law of 1872. Here's the scary part of the proposal that directly effects us as miners and prospectors:
It also looks like they're going to try to pump more money into addressing abandoned mines and "land hazards", I'm sure this means destroying some of our important mining history that can be found in our National Forests and BLM areas.
Why does the government keep trying to push our buttons? Every time we get done fighting for our rights in one battle, two more battles we have to fight happen to pop up.
Write to your legislators and tell them "NO!" to making any changes to the Mining Law of 1872!
Has anyone read the BLM's budget proposal for 2015? From what I gather, it looks like they want to do away with some of the most important aspects of our Mining Law of 1872. Here's the scary part of the proposal that directly effects us as miners and prospectors:
The second legislative proposal institutes a leasing process under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 for certain minerals, gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, uranium, and molybdenum, currently covered by the General Mining Law of 1872. After enactment, mining for these metals on Federal lands will be governed by the new leasing process and subject to annual rental payments and a royalty of not less than five percent of gross proceeds. Half of the receipts will be distributed to the States in which the leases are located and the remaining half will be deposited in the Treasury. Existing mining claims will be exempt from the change to a leasing system. The proposal also increases the annual maintenance fees under the General Mining Law of 1872 and eliminates the fee exemption for miners holding ten or fewer mining claims. These changes will discourage speculators from holding claims that they do not intend to develop. Holders of existing mining claims for these minerals could voluntarily convert their claims to leases. The Office of Natural Resources Revenue will collect, account for, and disburse the hardrock royalty receipts.
It also looks like they're going to try to pump more money into addressing abandoned mines and "land hazards", I'm sure this means destroying some of our important mining history that can be found in our National Forests and BLM areas.
Why does the government keep trying to push our buttons? Every time we get done fighting for our rights in one battle, two more battles we have to fight happen to pop up.
Write to your legislators and tell them "NO!" to making any changes to the Mining Law of 1872!
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