Mine ruling prompts bid for fed control of programs:Clean Air/Water Acts

[NVMojo]

CARSON CITY -- A state ruling Thursday against a mining watchdog group prompted a move to seek a federal takeover of the environmental protection programs now delegated to Nevada.

The move by Great Basin Mine Watch, the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, Nevada EcoNet, Sierra Nevada Alliance, Citizen Alert, Western Shoshone Defense Project and others followed a decision by the state Environmental Commission to limit efforts by the mine watch group to stop pollution from the old Big Springs gold mine in Elko County.Advertisement

A three-member panel of the Environmental Commission dismissed the group's challenge of the way the state monitors the mine, citing an attorney general's opinion that says a 2005 law limits participation in such cases only to those with a financial stake in the outcome.

State Wildlife Director Terry Crawforth, who chaired the panel, said the law has created an "awful" restriction on public participation in state agency decisions -- but left the panel with "little, if any, wiggle room."

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jul-07-Fri-2006/news/8370454.html

[phantom power]

1. "Money talks" used to be considered an unfortunate fact of life...

These days, it's being codified into law.

"limits participation only to those witha finnancial stake in the outcome," indeed.