COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JAMES A. HALEY, Florida, Chairman ROY A. TAYLOR, North Carolina HAROLD T. JOHNSON, California MORRIS K. UDALL, Arizona PHILLIP BURTON, California ROBERT W. KASTENMEIER, Wisconsin PATSY T. MINK, Hawaii LLOYD MEEDS, Washington ABRAHAM KAZEN, JR., Texas ROBERT G. STEPHENS, JR., Georgia PAUL E. TSONGAS, Massachusetts WRIGHT PATMAN, Texas JOE SKUBITZ, Kansas, Ranking Minority Member SAM STEIGER, Arizona DON H. CLAUSEN, California PHILIP E. RUPPE, Michigan DON YOUNG, Alaska ROBERT E. BAUMAN, Maryland JAMES P. (JIM) JOHNSON, Colorado SHIRLEY N. PETTIS, California CHARLES CONKLIN, Staff Director SUBCOMMITTEE ON MINES AND MINING PATSY T. MINK, Hawaii, Chairwoman JONATHAN B. BINGHAM, New York JOHN F. SEIBERLING, Ohio JOSEPH P. VIGORITO, Pennsylvania PHILIP E. RUPPE, Michigan JOE SKUBITZ, Kansas SHIRLEY N. PETTIS, California C. STANLEY SLOSS, Counsel NOTE. The first listed minority member is counterpart to the subcommittee chairman. (11) LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL DEAR COLLEAGUES: MARCH 15, 1976. Revision, reform, or even repeal of the "mining law of 1872" has been something advocated for many years by those who object to some adverse effects of miners' activities on the public lands and also by enlightened mining industry spokesmen who realize this basic act of over 100 years ago is out of step with much present-day philosophy and technology. Since the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs is expected to consider this matter in the near future, I believe the compilation and analysis of the present law developed under the sponsorship of our Subcommittee on Mines and Mining will be of interest and assistance. This committee print, however, is authorized not only as an aid to the Committee-which it will be—but also to help inform our citizenry as to the present state of the law-a function I am sure it also will perform. Sincerely, JAMES A. HALEY, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Hon. JAMES A. HALEY, FEBRUARY 28, 1976. Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The enclosed document, "Current Mineral Laws of the United States," was prepared by the staff of the Subcommittee on Mines and Mining, with the invaluable assistance of Dr. Larry MacDonnell, now of the Colorado School of Mines, who served as Special Staff Consultant. It provides a detailed analysis of the mineral laws of the United States as they stand now, and as such is intended to provide a ready reference for use of Members of Congress and for the public at a time when thoroughgoing revision of our mineral laws is becoming a matter of high priority. Because an understanding of the mineral laws is necessary if we are to deal responsibly with our responsibilities in a time of growing energy and mineral crises, I believe that this compilation and analysis should be printed as a Committee Print of our Committee. Very truly yours, PATSY T. MINK, Chairwoman, House Subcommittee on Mines and Mining. (III) |