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NOT #FederalLand -- #StolenLand !

#Gold, #silver and #lithium #mining on #FederalLand doesn’t bring in any royalties to the US Treasury – because of an 1872 law

Story by Sam Kalen, 2/25/2024

"Today, mining is a high-technology industry, but it is still governed by the Mining Law of 1872. As was true 150 years ago, companies can mine valuable mineral deposits from federal lands without paying any royalties to the U.S. Treasury.

"Even when lands that formerly were available for mining receive new protected status as national parks or monuments, the 1872 mining law protects existing mining claims on those lands. That’s why a company called Energy Fuels Inc. just started mining uranium in January 2024 at a site in Arizona 10 miles from the Grand Canyon and inside a new national monument.

[...]

"Reform advocates support adopting the type of traditional leasing model that is used for most other resources on public lands in the U.S. and elsewhere. As an example, for oil and gas production on federal lands and offshore in federal waters, agencies identify areas with development potential and hold competitive auctions to lease parcels for exploration and development.

"Reformists also favor tighter environmental safeguards that would address issues such as management and disposal of mining wastes. Finally, they argue that mining should be prohibited in areas that are ecologically sensitive or are important to Indigenous peoples or tribal nations."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/gold-silver-and-lithium-mining-on-federal-land-doesn-t-bring-in-any-royalties-to-the-us-treasury-because-of-an-1872-law/ar-BB1ik8FF

#LandBack #StolenLands #IndigenousRights #NoMining #EnvironmentalRacism #CulturalGenocide