Mark Udall: “We should not do that at the expense of the environment.”

We're talking about free trade also, right? I mean, this is the intersection of two sets of policies.

The 1872 mining law continues to allow mining corporations to take hard rock minerals from public lands without paying any royalties.

The royalties paid by coal companies--and energy development of all kinds on federal lands--provide critical support for local schools, roads and other services that Colorado families count on.

Senators Jerry Moran and Mark Udall recently sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget outlining areas where improvements can be made.