S. HRG. 102-253

MINING LAW REFORM ACT OF 1991 AND THE
MINERALS POLICY REVIEW COMMISSION ACT OF

1991

HEARING

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON MINERAL RESOURCES
DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON

ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
UNITED STATES SENATE

ONE HUNDRED SECOND CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

S. 433

TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN MINERALS ON FEDERAL LANDS, AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

S. 785

TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO STUDY EXISTING LAWS AND PROCEDURES RELATING TO
MINING, OTHER THAN COAL MINING, AND IN PARTICULAR THE EFFECTS OF EXISTING LAWS
AND PROCEDURES RELATING TO LOCATION AND DISPOSITION OF MINERALS ON PUBLIC LANDS
OF THE UNITED STATES AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE POLICY STATEMENT SET FORTH IN THE
MINING AND MINERALS POLICY ACT OF 1970, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

47-083

JUNE 11, 1991

Printed for the use of the

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1991

For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office

Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office, Washington, DC 20402

ISBN 0-16-036805-7

J. BENNETT JOHNSTON and MALCOLM WALLOP are Ex Officio Members of the Subcommittee

LISA VEHMAS, Professional Staff Member

DON SANTA, Counsel

JODI BRAYTON, Counsel (Minority)

Alfers, Stephen D., Davis, Graham & Stubbs, Denver, CO..

268

Baca, Jim, commissioner of public lands, New Mexico State Land Office,
Santa Fe, NM...

118

Beuter, John H., Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Agriculture,
accompanied by George Leonard, Associate Chief, Forest Service...
Bingaman, Hon. Jeff, U.S. Senator from New Mexico

110

1

Bryan, Hon. Richard H., U.S. Senator from Nevada
Bumpers, Hon. Dale, U.S. Senator from Arkansas
Burns, Hon. Conrad, U.S. Senator from Montana..
Craig, Hon. Larry E., U.S. Senator from Idaho

71

DeConcini, Hon. Dennis, U.S. Senator from Arizona.....

Domenici, Hon. Pete V., U.S. Senator from New Mexico
Garn, Hon. Jake, U.S. Senator from Utah..

Garver, Patrick J., Parsons Behle & Latimer, Salt Lake City, UT, on behalf of the Utah Mining Association.....

251

Greenwalt, Lynn A., vice president, International Affairs, National Wildlife

Federation, on behalf of the National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Wilderness Society. Hatch, Hon. Orrin G., U.S. Senator from Utah.........

202

Hocker, Philip M., president, Mineral Policy Center, on behalf of the Sierra
Club.

221

Jamison, Cy, Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the
Interior..

Leshy, John D., professor of law, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ...........
Mote, Karl W., executive director, Northwest Mining Association, Spokane,
WA

262

Murkowski, Hon. Frank H., U.S. Senator from Alaska
Reid, Hon. Harry, U.S. Senator from Nevada........

Shilling, Mel, resources specialist, Public Lands Foundation, McLean, VA.
Simpson, Hon. Alan K., U.S. Senator from Wyoming
Snyder, Donald D., chairman and chief executive officer, First Interstate
Bank of Nevada, on behalf of the Western Regional Council, as presented
by Karen Galatz

Stephens, Hon. Stan, Governor, State of Montana
Stevens, Hon. Ted, U.S. Senator from Alaska.......
Vucanovich, Hon. Barbara F., U.S. Representative from Nevada
Wallop, Hon. Malcolm, U.S. Senator from Wyoming

52

52

65

264

63

66

75

Ward, Milton H., president and chief operating officer, Freeport-McMoRan,

Inc., and chairman, American Mining Congress, accompanied by George Byers, vice president, Government Affairs, Santa Fe Pacific Minerals Corp., on behalf of the New Mexico Mining Association; and David W. Delcour, president, Amax Resource Conservation Company, and chairman, American Mining Congress Public Lands Committee

Wirth, Hon. Timothy E., U.S. Senator from Colorado.