WASHINGTON - If Congressman Richard Pombo and House Republicans have their way, well over 5 million acres of mining claims across the West will be up for sale, in what could become one of the largest land giveaways in U.S. history. Mining and other development on these lands would threaten hundreds of America’s most treasured natural places.  

Mining claims currently can be staked on as many as 270 million acres of public land in the 13 western states. Until 1994, when the Clinton administration put a halt on new land purchases, companies that struck gold or other metals on their claims could simply buy that land at prices set by the Congress in 1872, and make millions on what was previously public property.  

Today the House Resources Committee passed a proposal by Chairman Richard Pombo to overturn the Clinton ban on purchasing these mining lands and put 5.7 million acres of public lands up for sale in 13 western states.  

“Chairman Pombo wants to sell the American West to foreign mining corporations, and anyone else who can pay a fraction of market value for the land,” said Dusty Horwitt, analyst for Environmental Working Group (EWG). “If Pombo’s bill passes, America’s treasured natural heritage will be for sale to anyone who wants to buy it.”  

EWG’s interactive maps of corporate hold over public lands, available at http://www.ewg.org/mining/claims/index.php/ and http://www.ewg.org/reports/losingground/, show that 5.7 million acres of taxpayer lands could be sold immediately if Pombo’s plan succeeds.  

The following is a state-by-state summary of the currently claimed acres that could be privatized upon passage of Pombo’s legislation (figures are current as of 2004):  

* Alaska: at least 196,408 acres.  

* Arizona: 641,883 acres, including 10 claims within five miles of Grand Canyon National Park and nine claims within five miles of Saguaro National Park.  

* California: 635,225 acres, including 360 claims within five miles of Joshua Tree National Park.  

* Colorado: 123,457 acres, including one claim within five miles of Rocky Mountain National Park and eight claims within five miles of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.  

* Idaho: 260,185 acres.  

* Montana: 245,869 acres, including 20 claims within five miles of Yellowstone National Park.  

* Nevada: 2,508,276 acres, including 1,206 claims within five miles of Death Valley National Park (on both Nevada and California sides).  

* New Mexico: 170,231 acres, including 44 claims within five miles of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  

* Oregon: 191,391 acres.  

* South Dakota: 22,036 acres, including four claims within five miles of Wind Cave National Park.  

* Utah: 367,244 acres, including 20 claims within five miles of Canyonlands National Park and seven claims within five miles of Arches National Park.  

* Washington: 50,632 acres, including five claims within five miles of Mt. Rainier National Park.  

* Wyoming: 353,499 acres, including eight claims within five miles of Grand Teton National Park.  

* Grand total: at least 5,766,000 acres

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