Letter: Mining rules not detrimental

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001 | 8:55 a.m.

The headline of Launce Rake's Oct. 1 article, "Mining pits environment vs. the economy," presents a false choice before the story even begins.

Environmentally responsible mining as described by recently strengthened Bureau of Land Management mining rules (that Secretary of Interior Gale Norton is expected to revoke soon) does not require Americans to choose between a clean environment and a strong economy.

The history of industry regulation is littered with corporate Chicken Littles warning that the economic sky would fall if companies were forced to act responsibly. And history shows they were wrong.

For example, just before stronger coal mining rules were enacted, the U.S. coal mining industry warned that it would be devastated by new regulations. Twenty years later, strong coal mining regulations have "devastated" the coal mining industry to the tune of a 157 percent increase in annual domestic coal production.

According to the EPA, the mining industry releases more toxic chemicals than all other U.S. industries combined; and the mining industry pollutes 40 percent of all Western rivers. Clearly, strong regulations are needed to protect Western communities. But, the choice is not "environment vs. economy." The real choice is "clean water vs. industry abuses."

ALAN SEPTOFF, Washington, D.C.

Editor's note: The writer is the research and information systems director for the Mineral Policy Center.