Bush administration sells 155 acres to mining firm for less than $900

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-mine17.html

CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. -- The ruddy slopes of 12,392-foot Mount Emmons loom over this town, drawing hikers, backcountry skiers and snowshoers. But to residents such as Jim Starr, they also stand for what is wrong with the nation's antiquated mining laws.

Those laws allowed the Bush administration to sell 155 acres of public land on the "Red Lady" to a mining company for less than $900. The land has deposits of molybdenum, a gray metal used to make steel, alloys and lubricants.

"It's a huge threat. If anyone did put a mine in there, it's hard to imagine that it would not destroy this area," said Starr, a lawyer and Democratic chairman of Gunnison County's board of commissioners.

Just $2.50 or $5 an acre

The sale was made possible by an 1872 mining law that lets the government sell, for just $2.50 or $5 an acre, public lands that contain minerals. This land sale, known as a patent, gives companies absolute title to the property.

[ridgerunner]

1. The 1872 mining law needs to be repealed

it's a total travesty.

[Erika]

2. W and those he deals with have no conscience

and they have no problem with screwing the public.

[texpatriot2004]

3. Chumpy abuses another law and the environment. n.t

[phusion]

4. Molybdenum? fuck!

Molybdenum mining completely destroys mountaintops. Check out this molybdenum mine near Red River, NM:



Such a shame...Crested Butte is a beautiful area with great mountain biking.

:grr:

edit: Oh, and the tailings from that mine near Red River have leaked into a nearby stream and ruined its ecosystem.

[MisterP]

5. the mine bosses'll probably boast of how friggin' "self-reliant" they are

over a century of mismanagement has made it so the inland West'll sink into the Colorado without California--it's like chimps were running things long before the Stuffed Monkey came along

[philarq]

6. interesting law however

A google search gives many links to "1872 mining law" one being:

http://www.greatbasinminewatch.org/generalmininglaw.html

notice that it only applies to deposits located prior to May 10, 1872

[sam sarrha]

7. is that a forign company..?? they do that all the time