The Northwest Mining Association applauds the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) decision to retain the financial guarantee provisions of the 43 CFR 3809 regulations that became final in January, 2001. The BLM's decision is consistent with the mining industry's long-held position that all mining activities beyond casual use should be fully bonded to assure that proper reclamation and closure of mine sites will occur. In announcing NWMA's support for BLM's decision, executive director Laura Skaer stated, "We are pleased to see the BLM follow the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Study on hardrock mining, as mandated by Congress. In our testimony before the NAS committee, and in our extensive comments filed with the BLM on the 3809 rulemaking and BLM's recent proposal to suspend the 2001 regulations, NWMA strongly supported full bonding for all mining activities beyond casual use." Since 1981, when the 3809 regulations were promulgated by former Secretary of the Interior, Cecil D. Andrus, the BLM has had the authority to require bonds from all producing mines operating under a plan of operations. Today, every producing mine on federal land is already covered by a bond. Furthermore, current mining on federal land is effectively regulated by more than three dozen federal environmental laws and regulations, including the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, the Endangered Species Act, and many others. In addition, environmental laws and regulations in each western mining state impose exacting controls on mining operations. The reclamation and bonding laws of every mining state mandate that mining companies reclaim mining sites when their operations end, and that the money is available. "The mining industry and our members fully support these comprehensive regulatory programs to ensure reclamation and protection of the environment," said Skaer. "Even before the new regulations were adopted, all plans of operation for producing mines required full bonding. The mining industry has long-supported that policy. We are pleased that the BLM has reaffirmed the requirement that all producing mines must be adequately bonded to protect the environment, while providing a reasonable amount of time to ensure a smooth transition to the new financial bonding requirements." Added Skaer, "America's taxpayers are well served by the BLM's decision, which is consistent with the Bush administration's pursuit of balance between environmental protection and natural resource production to meet American society's growing demand for mineral and energy resources." The Northwest Mining Association is a 106 year old, 2,200 member, non-profit, non-partisan trade association based in Spokane, Washington. The Association's purpose is to support and advance the mineral resource and related industries, represent and inform its members on technical, legislative and regulatory issues, provide for the dissemination of educational materials relating to mining, and foster and promote economic opportunity and environmentally and socially responsible mining.

For additional information please contact: Laura Skaer, Executive Director (509) 624-1158