Larry Craig: “I wish to take a moment to commend the senior Senator from California for her efforts to exclude from the park and…”

“I wish to take a moment to commend the senior Senator from California for her efforts to exclude from the park and wilderness boundaries of this legislation several sizeable and important mining operations. I know that she went to great lengths to do so and I am grateful for her willingness to accommodate the mining industry to the extent she could and I am sure they do as well. These mineral operations--gold, borates, and so forth--provide well-paying jobs and are vital to the economic prosperity of the California desert area. But, Mr. President, there is still one troubling aspect about these exclusions I would like to raise with the senior Senator and that is the issue of suitability. Because these mining operations are adjacent to park and wilderness boundaries, I believe they may encounter some access problems or other problems associated with mining and mineral exploration activities. I sincerely hope that is not the case, and I will remain optimistic that this is not the case.”