Earth Matters: Modernizing Federal Mining Law

Earth Matters co-host and Upper Gila Watershed Alliance director Donna Stevens interviews GRIP Executive Director and Earth Matters co-host Allyson Siwik about efforts to modernize federal mining law, how we balance the need for critical minerals for the renewable energy transition with environmental protection and social justice, and the new Emma expansion project at the Tyrone Mine.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the 1872 Mining Law – a law that governs the hardrock mining industry and that remains unchanged since before Silver City was incorporated. With the renewable energy transition fueling increased demand for critical minerals, the Biden Admin- istration and Congress are trying to modernize mining laws and regulations.

In our own backyard, we see the increased demand for metals resulting in more exploration and expansion proposals. But without mining reform, the public will continue to lose billions of dollars in royalty payments for minerals extracted from public lands, bear the cost of cleanup of abandoned mines, and our environment, public health, and special and sacred places will not be adequately protected due to the lack of modern regulation of mining on federal public lands.