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For Additional Information:
John Grasser (202) 463-2651
Karen Batra (202) 463-2651
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2000
THE FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT BY RICHARD L. LAWSON, NMA PRESIDENT AND CEO, ON PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO DECLARE OVER 1 MILLION ACRES OF LAND IN ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA OFF LIMITS TO MINING AND DEVELOPMENT:
"The president's decision to withdraw these lands from public use
epitomizes this administration's continuing disregard for the role
of Congress and for the wishes of the American people. With this unilateral
designation, the administration is turning a blind eye to the needs
and desires of the people who live in these communities.
"In 1999 alone, the administration issued over 52 notices
of land withdrawal totaling over 2.3 million acres under the guise
of 'establishing an environmental legacy.' Yet the mining industry
has a proven record of environmental commitment, spending billions
of dollars each year to reclaim mined land, improve air and water
quality, provide habitats for wildlife and create wetlands for waterfowl.
"The Clinton administration has repeatedly refused to accept
meaningful public input and he continues to belittle the legislative
process or even discuss his proposals with elected state and local
officials from the affected areas in dealing with our country's
public lands. In February, the administration announced a proposal
to close 430,000 acres of land in Montana to mineral exploration
and mining. In 1998, the administration proposed withdrawal of 605,350
acres of copper- and uranium-rich land in Arizona and in 1996, public
lands were withdrawn in Utah for creation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument, where 62 billion tons of coal reserves could
have generated as much as $1.1 billion in state revenue.
"By further reducing the amount of land available for mineral
exploration, federal, state and local governments will continue
to be deprived of hundreds of million of dollars in tax payments.
Also, thousands of high-paying jobs that would have been created
in the United States, will instead be created overseas.
"We agree with Arizona Governor Jane Hull, U.S. Senators Jon
Kyl and John McCain, and U.S. Representatives J.D. Hayworth, Jim
Kolbe, Matt Salmon, John Shadegg and Bob Stump who said 'We believe
it is imperative that the Congress, and the people affected by any
proposed monument designations, be directly involved in the final
decisions of public land management.'
"The mining industry is deeply supportive of protecting our
national treasures. But the administration's continued withdrawal
of public lands not only ignores the statutorily mandated principle
of multiple use, but also poses a dangerous threat to America's
economic and national security interests."
The U.S. mining industry produces coal, metals, building materials,
and many other essential minerals that define the daily lives of
267 million Americans. The mining industry generates over $500 billion
in total economic benefit each year and helps to sustain nearly
5 million U.S. jobs.
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