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In 1870 the population of the United States was less than 40 million. West of the Mississippi, 7 million of those people lived on 1.8 million square miles, giving a population density in the West of 4 people per square mile. Today the population of the United States is 2.50 million, with 72 million of them living west of the Mississippi River, creating a western population density of 40 people per square mile.

Circumstances have changed tremendously since the 19th century and it is now clear that the land is not inexhaustible. All the land has been explored and indigenous cultures have been destroyed. Hundreds of plant and animal species have been forced to near extinction or beyond. Population density has increased by almost 1,000% since 1870. The wildlands in the west now provide vacation and recreation areas to more and more Americans and the trend toward using the land for recreation will continue. The land can no longer tolerate the ungentle treatment fostered by the Mining Law of 1872.

In the 1870's, 76% of the citizens of this country lived in rural areas. Today only 27% live in rural areas and the trend is continuing towards a declining percentage of rural dwellers. Although demand for minerals will remain high, since mining is a rural activity, it follows that fewer and fewer people will be involved in it, and-unless the mining law is changed--these few will command undeserved control over our public lands. The majority of Americans are in danger of losing their right to enjoy the few undiminished wide open spaces that remain.

In Idaho, the mining industry directly employs 2,552 workers at all levels, less than one percent of all reported workers in a state with a population of about 1 million people. This is a very small group to wield such power over public policy and the environment. We are not suggesting that any of these individuals have their jobs taken away. We do expect, however, that the majority of Idahoans will not have to live with ever worsening toxic wastes from mines, permanent degradation of the landscape by unreclaimed mining activities, and the virtual give-away of public land for private profit under the guise of an anachronistic mining law.

In closing, I would like to read and excerpt from the Idaho Statesman newspaper from over 100 years ago, dated March 25,

1891: "The question frequently arises as to whether or not it is worth while to spend time, fortune and energy to develop the mining or other resources of the west. The laboring man often complains that he only gets a scanty living while his rich employer gets still richer on the profits of his toil."

Today, that sense of exploitation of working people has been replaced by the feeling of a continuing loss in the "quality of life" for most Americans. It is precisely the high quality of life we enjoy in the west which we now endeavor to maintain.

Thank you for this opportunity to present the views of the Idaho Conservation League and for your tireless work at reforming the mining law. We look forward to continuing to work with you in the future on this crucial issue.

IDAHO

CONSERVATION

LEAQUE

P.O. Box 2671, Ketchum, id 83340

Wood River Chapter (208) 726-6437

Public Lands Office (208) 726 7485

Summary of Idaho Conservation League position on H.R. 918 :

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ICL supports creation of the Abandoned Minerals Mine
Reclamation Fund as outlined in Tide III.

ICL supports eliminating patenting as stated in Title I, Section

08.

ICL supports giving mineral management authority to the U.S.
Forest Service on Forest Service lands as outlined in Title IV,
Section 401.

ICL supports the provision to allow citizens to file suit if land management agencies fail to uphold the law.

Title II, Section 201 should be strengthened to give federal agencies the authority to deny a Plan of Operations based on site-specific NEPA analysis tiered to a Land Use Plan. Agencies should be directed to protect certain specific resources (such as riparian areas, critical wildlife habitat, recreation areas, scenic areas, etc.) from mining degradation.

Title II, Section 201 should be strengthened to require inclusion of a reclamation plan in the Plan of Operations and associated NEPA document. Reclamation plans should include specific standards to protect wildlife and fish habitat, important vegetation, scenic, and recreation values.

Title IV Section 402 should be amended to require that a mining company pay a permit fee to the administering land management agency in an amount sufficient to cover the total costs of environmental review.

A 12.5% royalty should be collected to assure a fair return to the treasury from mining on public lands.

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