Uranium Gold Rush for WYO Under the Microscope Today
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Cheyenne, WY – High market prices are luring companies back into the uranium mining game in Wyoming, and it's getting the attention of Congress. Today, a Senate committee considers updating the 1872 Mining Act, which oversees uranium and other hard rock mining. Jane Danowitz with the Pew Campaign for Responsible Mining says companies need to be held responsible when they leave mine sites behind, whether they're uranium, gold, or silver mines.
"The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there's about a $50 billion price tag attached to cleanup issues across the country."
The proposed update would require mining companies to pay more toward cleanup, and assess royalties for what they remove, similar to royalties paid by the oil and gas industry. Danowitz believes it's unfair for taxpayers to subsidize the profitable mining companies, which often are based in other countries.
"There are hundreds of thousands of abandoned mines that litter the landscape, particularly in the West. Many of them are creating perpetual pollution for communities, and have had detrimental impacts on fish and wildlife habitat."
The U.S. House has already passed a package of mining law updates. Opponents argue the proposed royalties are too high.
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