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...1872 law says that mining is “the highest and best use” of public lands...

WTF?!? Where is the sense in upholding a law from over 150 years ago that should no longer be accepted given the crises we’re in today?

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It's an anachronistic holdover from the past.

Unfortunately, most of the discussions about "mining permitting reform" are actually about reducing permitting time and making it *easier* for corporations to mine. There is pressure to positively change the mining law, but those efforts were torpedoed by Nevada Senator Mastow last year.

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