CONGRESSMEN SALAZAR CONTINUES FIGHT TO PROTECT PUBLIC LANDS

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressmen Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) and John Salazar (D-Manassa) today continued their fight against legislation to open up public lands to mineral development. In mid-November, Udall and Salazar opposed a provision in the Budget Reconciliation bill to allow mineral companies to “patent” public lands. In a letter to their colleagues in Congress, the Congressmen advocated for the elimination of the patent provision from the final version of the bill.

"As it stands, the bill would open up millions of acres of Federal public lands to real estate development and oil and gas drilling.  The likely result will be the privatization of millions of acres of Federal land setting the stage for a massive fire sale of these lands for bargain-basement prices.  That would have serious consequences for many areas in the West, affecting water quality, hunting and fishing opportunities, and forever changing our quality of life.  The mining provisions should be removed from the bill," said Udall.

Said Salazar: “Bartering public lands to balance the budget is bad public policy.  Our public lands are a valuable resource to be preserved for future generations. This provision can cause irreparable damage to Colorado’s landscape and local economies. Communities across Colorado are opposed to this wholesale opening up of public lands to mineral development. I encourage my colleagues to listen to the community and eliminate the provision from this bill.”

In their letter, the Congressmen noted the public outcry over the provision.

“Hunters and anglers are concerned the provisions would have an adverse effect on wildlife habitat and on their ability to gain access to Federal lands, while County governments are concerned that enactment of these provisions could disrupt their ability to plan for orderly growth.”

The following is the complete text of the Congressmen’s letter:

The Honorable Jim Nussle, Chairman
The Honorable John M. Spratt, Jr., Ranking Democratic Member
Committee on the Budget
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
 
Dear Chairman Nussle and Ranking Member Spratt:
 
We are writing to urge that the conferees on budget reconciliation legislation agree to delete Subtitle B of H.R. 4241 as passed by the House.
 
That part of the House-passed bill includes a number of changes in the Mining Law of 1872 that could have far-reaching consequences for Colorado and other Western States, particularly by authorizing sale for development of large amounts of Federal lands, including tracts within the boundaries of National Forests, used by ranchers, sportsmen, and the general public.
 
Many agree that Congress should revise the mining laws, but these provisions are of great concern to people across the West. 
 
Hunters and anglers are concerned that the provisions would have an adverse effect on wildlife habitat and on their ability to gain access to Federal lands, while County governments are concerned that enactment of these provisions could disrupt their ability to plan for orderly growth. 
 
The significance of this for counties in our state is shown by the attached resolution from Colorado Counties, Inc. – an organization of Colorado’s county governments -- asking that this part of the House-passed bill be deleted in conference. 
 
We strongly support that request, and we urge you and the other conferees to make that change.
 
Thank you for your attention to this request. 
 
Sincerely,
      Mark Udall
      John Salazar
      Members of Congress