Santa Cruz County Watchdog

The General Mining Act of 1872 is a United States federal law that authorizes and governs prospecting and mining for economic minerals, such as gold, platinum, and silver, on federal public lands. It was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on May 10, 1872, to promote the development of the nation’s mining resources. The law applies to land in the public domain, which is federal land that has never been set aside for a specific use, such as national parks or wilderness areas.

Critics argue the law is outdated, as it was designed for small-scale prospectors with pickaxes, not modern multinational mining corporations. The law does not require mining companies to pay royalties on the minerals extracted from public lands. As a result, the federal government receives no direct revenue from the extraction of minerals. The law also contains no environmental protection provisions and has resulted in water pollution from abandoned mines, with cleanup costs potentially exceeding $50 billion.

Federal land managers have stated they cannot deny mining proposals due to the law’s provisions, which treat a mining claim as a right-to-mine. The law has been the subject of numerous reform efforts, with advocates calling for updated regulations to protect communities, the environment, and ensure taxpayers receive fair compensation.

Under the Mining Law of 1872 South32, the US Forest Service has been approved to discharge up to 6.5 million gallons of water per day (20 acre feet) for the life of the mine. It’s up to us to ensure that discharged water is being treated, meets agreed-upon clean water targets, and is discharged responsibly. You can help by contacting the US Forest Service (USFS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and your State and Federal elected officials.