2005 Land Grab

In the fall of 2005, Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA), Chair of the House Resources Committee, and Representative Jim Gibbons (R-NV), advanced legislation that would have sparked the largest public land grab in U.S. history, endangering America's special places in the process and potentially costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

If passed into law as part of the Budget Reconcilliation bill, the Pombo/Gibbons mining subtitle would have actually made the 1872 Mining Law  worse. 

In a nutshell, the 2005 initiative would have:

• Put Special Places at Risk: The Mining subtitle allowed mining companies to purchase mining claims -- even if they are within a protected area -- including, for example, National Parks or Wilderness Areas.
  
• Provided an Enormous Corporate Giveaway: The Mining subtitle allowed for a massive giveaway of our public's heritage to corporate interests in the U.S. and overseas.
  
• Defrauded the Public: The Mining subtitle would have enabled U.S. and foreign companies to buy our American heritage without any proof that the lands can and should be used for mineral development, and without regard for the other uses and needs for these lands, including water quality protection, wildlife habitat and recreation.
  
• Allowed a Fire Sale of Treasured Public Lands: Along with other provisions of this bill, Representative Pombo put a big FOR SALE sign on our American heritage -- selling our National lands to mining companies. And by Mr. Pombo's own estimate, the fire sale would have raised less revenue in 5 years ($155 million) than a fair royalty similar to what all other extractive industries pay (an 8% royalty would generate ~$350 million over 5 years).

The attempted Pombo/Gibbons land sale failed because of broad opposition from western Senators on both sides of the aisle and a diverse coalition of hunters, anglers, and other recreational users of public lands along with conservationists and business leaders such as jewelry retailers.

The introduction of the mining subtitle, and the resulting public outcry, has highlighted the need for meaningful reform of the 1872 Mining Law--reform that protects the interests of local communities and natural resources, while ensuring that recreational opportunities and revenues are not threatened.