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From: David A. Kirkpatrick[SMTP:david@kirkworks.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 1997 11:10 AM
To: GreenYes@UCSD.EDU
Subject: Mining/Oil Drilling Absurdities
GREENLines, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997 from GREEN,
the GrassRoots Environmental Effectiveness Network,
A project of Defenders of Wildlife
(505) 277-8302 or email rfeather@defenders.org
MINING "ABSURDITY": A 12/4 editorial in the Grants Pass Courier (OR)
decries the "absurdity" of the 1872 Mining Act that allows mining,
motorized vehicles and possible development within the Kalmiopsis
Wilderness on the Siskiyou National Forest in Oregon. In 1988, two
local men purchased 60 acres of mining claims in the wilderness. The
Act allows the owners to patent the land and the owners are considering
logging it or building a resort. "If Americans don't like that, they
might be able to buy the land back and preserve it as wilderness as it
was intended to be," the editorial said. "The only catch is the asking
price is at least $850,000." The Act allowed the sale of the land for
$150.00.
UT DRILLING EXTENSION: AP reported 12/5 the Clinton Administration
granted Conoco an extension to drill an exploratory well within the new
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Although the extension
gives Conoco until 2/8/98 to complete tests to determine if it will
develop its drilling lease within the monument, it doesn't force the
company to begin development in order to hold onto the lease.