Bush administration issuing new mining rules

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2001 | 9:54 a.m.

The federal Bureau of Land Management today will release details of its new policy governing surface mining, a bureau official said.

BLM Assistant Director Larry Finfer said the agency will release details of the new policy to the media today, and the text of the new rules will be published Monday.

The rules would supersede those established by the outgoing Clinton administration Jan. 20. The Bush administration, reacting to opposition from the metal mining industry, proposed suspending the Clinton administration rules in March.

Gold and silver mining is one of Nevada's most important industries, particularly in the north and central parts of the state. Mines produced $2.4 billion in gold last year, 11 percent of the world's total, according to the Nevada Mining Association.

The industry employed about 11,000 workers last year, at an average annual salary of $59,000.

The industry was particularly concerned about a new rule that allows the BLM to block a new mine that would create "substantial irreparable harm" to the land, air or water. Mining representatives said it duplicated existing environmental rules and could be used by environmentalists to unfairly cripple the industry.

Environmentalists supported the Clinton administration rules.

The BLM said in March that the agency had three options: it could completely revoke the Clinton administration rules, keep parts of the rules or keep all the new rules in place. Finfer said the agency is taking the middle road.

"It's not as simple as saying the old rule is being thrown out," he said. "It's much more complex."

Agency officials said they could not release details of their rule changes until today.