"Mining Law Threatens California's National Parks; Other Areas at Risk" by the Environmental Working Group is our site of the day

"Mining Law Threatens California's National Parks; Other Areas at Risk" is a newly released report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) that analyzes data from the U.S. Bureau of of Land Management (BLM). Using detailed Google Maps, it shows the rapid growth in claims near Yosemite, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and other public lands

In the last four years, metals mining claims near national parks and other federally protected public lands soared above 21,000, with more than one-third filed since January 2003, according to this report. Many of these claims are in locations that would threaten or destroy critical water resources, landscapes, or habitat if developed as mines.

BLM data show 21,365 claims within 10 miles of these public lands, with 7,390 staked since January 2003. Currently, there are almost 3,300 claims within 10 miles of national parks in California.

While the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to mark up mining reform legislation this Thursday, there is information here that those concerned about California's own water policies as a state need to be aware of and proactive in encouraging our representatives in Washington, D.C. to act on. The special session on water of the California legislature is focusing on ways to make our water safe for drinking and other uses, and the problems identified in this report need to be considered as part of that process.

Metals mining is the leading source of toxic pollution in the U.S., and under the archaic 1872 Mining Law, federal land managers have almost no power to stop mining once a claim is staked. The impact of large mining operations - huge open pits, acid mine drainage, air and water pollution - is typically much worse than other industries such as logging or oil and gas exploration that may get greater media and popular attention.

EWG's investigation of BLM records found:

• Almost 3,300 mining claims within 10 miles of national parks in California, with 1,093 in the last four years. More than 2,170 are within 10 miles of Death Valley; 525 near Joshua Tree and 285 near Yosemite. (Because some areas overlap, the total number of claims is less than the sum of claims near each area.)

• More than 14,400 claims within 10 miles of wilderness areas including the Ansel Adams, John Muir, Trinity Alps and Desolation Wilderness, with more than 4,200 in the last four years.

• More than 11,300 claims within 10 miles of federally designated roadless areas - crucial to clean water supplies for many municipal watersheds - including the Tahoe Forest, Stanislaus Forest, and Humboldt-Toyiabe Forest roadless areas, with more than 4,600 in the last four years. Almost 1,500 claims are actually inside these roadless areas.

• More than 260 claims within 10 miles of National Monuments, including 41 near Sequoia National Monument.

The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, DC with an office in California that uses the power of information to protect human health and the environment.