Constitutional Law

Bush Administration Alters Regulation To Open Federal Lands To Mining

The Bush administration is pushing through a regulation aimed at restricting the ability of Congress to prevent mining of public lands. The New York Times reported this morning that the Interior Department has issued the new rule, which was moved through the “rule-making process with lighting speed.” Apparently, the newspaper reported, the agency is intent on allowing mining for uranium on public land near Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The Center for Biological Diversity said the new rule is part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to fight a recent congressional resolution “demanding the immediate withdrawal of these lands in response to alarming increase in uranium claims in such close proximity to Grand Canyon National Park.”

Earlier this week, the administration approved a new regulation that would make it easier for coal companies to dump waste from mountaintop mining in nearby streams and valleys.

Full post as published by ACS Blog on December 05, 2008 (boomark / email).