A bill intended to stop the Rosemont copper mine south of Tucson, could effectively ban access by anyone to US Forest Service lands in Pima and Santa Cruz counties [right], including places such as Sabino Canyon and the rest of Coronado National Forest in the two counties.
My sources say that US Forest Service attorneys are advising department officials that a section of HR2944, "Southern Arizona Public Lands Protection Act of 2009," that would prevent "all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws," would mean not only no mining, but no grazing, logging, hunting, fishing, hiking or any other use of forest lands.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, also would prevent entry to BLM lands under the general mining laws.
The bill targets mining and geothermal energy, a renewable energy resource that BLM has been promoting by direction of the President, on federal lands in Pima and Santa Cruz counties.
A hearing on HR2944 is set for Dec. 8, 2009 with the House Natural Resources Committee;
National Parks, Forest, and Public Lands Subcommittee in Washington DC.
Here is the full text of the bill:
A BILL
To withdraw certain Federal lands and interests located in Pima and Santa Cruz counties, Arizona, from the mining and mineral leasing laws of the United States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Southern Arizona Public Lands Protection Act of 2009'.
SEC. 2. WITHDRAWAL OF FEDERAL LANDS AND INTERESTS LOCATED IN PIMA AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES, ARIZONA.
Subject to valid existing rights, after the date of enactment of this Act--
(1) all federally owned interests in National Forest lands in Santa Cruz County and Pima County, Arizona, are withdrawn from--
(A) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;
(B) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(C) operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws, and the mineral materials laws;
(2) all federally owned subsurface interests under the administrative jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management in lands in Pima County, Arizona, with respect to which the surface interests are owned by such county, including in such lands located in Davidson Canyon, are withdrawn from--
(A) all forms of entry, appropriation and disposal under the public land laws;
(B) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(C) operation of the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws, and the mineral materials laws; and
(3) all federally owned interests in Bureau of Land Management lands in Pima County, Arizona, are withdrawn from entry, location, or patent under the general mining laws.
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