You'd think he'd be kinda busy with that whole health care thing, but US Sen.
has apparently found time to
reform the mining industry
, too. To be fair, Bingaman introduced the bill in April, but it wasn't until yesterday that he
in US Sen.
, D-Colorado.
What's unique about the bill is that it would assess
2 to 5 percent royalties
for hardrock (gold, platinum, uranium) mining on public lands; the proceeds would be deposited into a reclamation fund. It also allows for
stricter fees and permit processes
. It doesn't sound like a lot—read Bingaman's description of the bill
—but no telling what effect it'll have on the
rumblings about new uranium mining
around Grants, N.M. For more on that, check out
by New Mexico Sen.
, D-Cibola, in today's
Cibola Beacon
. A preview, after the jump...
Especially if we can squeeze some royalties out of it!
