Please sign your organization onto the letter below that expresses opposition to the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act and support for the Faith Principles for Sourcing Transition Minerals. We value having a diverse group of faith organizations engaging with us in this advocacy. You may complete a form following the text of the letter.
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Dear Senator:
We, as faith-based organizations, expect Congress to ensure that laws governing our nation’s natural resources prioritize protection of communities and the environment. We
therefore feel the need to express strong opposition to the Mining
Regulatory Clarity Act (S. 544/H.R. 1366).
We fear that this legislation would weaken the already outdated 1872 Mining Law and give even more control over our public lands to the mining industry. Very little would stop multinational companies from dumping toxic waste and constructing pipelines, roads and other infrastructure on our precious public land. Their unlimited access could block use of the land for cultural and spiritual practices as well as for renewable energy projects, watershed protection and recreation.
As a diverse group of faith groups, we share a commitment to addressing the current and future harms of climate change on communities in the U.S. and around the world where we
minister. We recognize the need to strengthen and secure supply chains
for the minerals required for the transition to a renewable energy economy.
Our faith-based principles for sourcing minerals for the energy transition call for attending
to survival of sacred lands and water, the health of communities and respect
for Native people in this process. This includes:
- Inviting communities on or near proposed mining sites into active
participation in decision-making, from the earliest point of the process
through its completion;
- Requiring strong and enforceable labor and environmental standards
and protection of human rights for the duration of the mining process; and
- Investing in
research and implementation of less extractive methods of sourcing
minerals, such as recycling and reuse of minerals and batteries.
The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act doesn’t come close to fulfilling these principles. In fact, it takes us in the opposite direction.We are more encouraged by the Mining Waste, Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act (S. 859), introduced last week by Sen. Lujan. This bill requires that companies pay royalties for minerals
extracted from public lands, sets strong environmental standards for mineral
mining and cleanup of abandoned mines, and mandates meaningful tribal
consultation before issuing mineral mining permits that would impact those
communities. Importantly, the bill also grants federal land managers authority
to protect certain public land from mineral mining.
Mining has caused immeasurable destruction and is the No. 1 source of toxic pollution for many communities, such as people living in the Navajo Nation suffering from decades of health hazards from uranium mining. Our sacred places, wilderness, recreation access, and public health will be under even greater threat from mining with passage of the
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act.
We urge you to oppose this legislation.
