Lack of Congressional action to reform this archaic law is indefensible--albeit a testament to the strength of the mining industry's influence on certain key Members who have consistently blocked any attempt to amend or replace the law during the past two Congresses.

Today, Reps. Filner, Pelosi, Gutierrez, and I am introducing legislation to require the Department of Energy to move the tailings to a safe location.

The NRC has seems determined to perpetuate rather than resolve this dangerous situation in the case of the Atlas site.

This antiquated relic allows mining operators nearly unlimited access to our Nation's hard rock minerals, no matter what other values (such as fish and wildlife habitat) may also be present.

The majority refused to even hold hearings on these bills during the last Congress, instead focusing on crushing Clinton administration policies that would have made miners accountable for their actions and decreased the level of environmental destruction that accompanies mining activities.

Today, I am introducing three bills, in addition to Rep. Nick Rahall's (D-WVA) comprehensive bill to reform the Mining Law of 1872.

Moving the tailings will remove the source of the contamination.

Public opinion--even in Western states with large mining activities--is strongly in favor of mining reform that includes a royalty that raises substantial revenues to be used for abandoned mine clean-up.

This is corporate welfare that subsidizes both foreign and domestic mining companies and should be stopped.

The only mining law reform bill Congress has sent to the President in recent years was part of the fiscal year 1995 budget reconciliation bill that President Clinton properly vetoed in December 1995.

Mining reform is long overdue.