Washington Survey - Questions Up For Argument

Senator Henry M. Jackson t D. Wash.) recently tossed a live grenade into the hardrock mining industry with proposed legislation to change provisions of the law governing Federally owned mineral values. Title Two of the measure would place hardrock mining agreements on a leasing basis similar to that which has applied to oil and gas since 1920. Known as the "Public Domain Lands Organic Act 01 1971" or S.921, the bill would monitor exploration by heavy machinery which ran destroy fragile ecology without any requirement for restoration or rehabilitation." Jackson said. Abandoned mining claims, lie continued, dot the public domain, "casting clouds upon the title to property which belongs to all the people.” and a minerals leasing system is "the most practical way of achieving the proper balance."