Members of Congress, Mining Reform Groups to Demand Bush Administration Reverse Plan to Allow More Pollution from Mining

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For Immediate Release

Members of Congress, Mining Reform Groups to Demand Bush Administration Reverse Plan to Allow More Pollution from Mining

Public Comments Oppose Bush Plan 50 to 1

WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, May. 7 -/E-Wire/-- Rep. Nick Rahall, Senator Maria Cantwell, Rep. Jay Inslee and other members of Congress will join mining reform advocates at a press conference this Wednesday to call on President Bush not to roll back environmental and taxpayer protections on the hardrock mining industry and to release new information on the public comments submitted to the Administration during the comment period which ended May 7. Twenty citizens from around the West whose lives would be affected by the rollback in safeguards will also attend the news conference. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) has been invited.

The Department of the Interior has proposed to reverse current rules that would require mining companies to pay for clean-up of their sites. The rules would also reduce toxic runoff into waterways. The Clinton administration spent nearly four years taking comments before approving the "3809 rules" just before Clinton left office. But Interior Secretary Gale Norton has proposed revoking the current regulations and returning to the old rules, which enabled mining companies to avoid responsibility for pollution they caused.

The current rules would enable the federal government to prohibit new mine sites on sensitive federal land and prevent mining pollution, such as cyanide and arsenic, from contaminating rivers and streams. The rules also would require companies to pay for clean up.

The mining industry was the chief beneficiary of the administration's delay of safer standards for arsenic in drinking water. The industry is responsible for 96 percent of all arsenic pollution reported by U.S. industry. According to the federal Toxic Release Inventory released this April, mining is the nation's largest toxic polluter.

Reporters unable to attend in person can join by conference call at: [REDACTED-PHONE], code: 71872#

WHAT: Press conference to demand the Bush administration uphold current mining rules

WHEN: Wednesday, May 9, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Room HC-9, U.S. Capitol

WHO: Stephen D'Esposito, president, Mineral Policy Center Jill Lancelot, legislative director, Taxpayers for Common Sense Rep. Nick Rahall of West Virginia, ranking member on House Resources committee Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, invited Rep. Jay Inslee of Washington, ranking on Resources subcommittee on Forests

Mineral Policy Center

http://www.stoptherollbacks.org

http://http://www.mineralpolicy.org

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