Tough times ahead in Congress for U.S. miners

Speaking at a legislative affairs panel of the Northwest Mining Association convention here, Benedetto explained, "We have abundant resources in this country. The thing we do not have is access to those resources."

She emphasized that it was crucial that the domestic mining industry have access to energy and fuel. Yet, she added, 60% of the oil and gas reserves in the United States are not available for leasing from the federal government.

Meanwhile, Benedetto advised that climate change and/or global warming legislation could also put an additional burden on mining and the U.S. economy in general.

A former exploration geologist, Benedetto also warned the audience, "We are going to have mining law reform that is not going to be good." To compound hardrock mining"s problems, a number of the industry"s strongest advocates have left Congress including Sen. Pete Domenici, the ranking member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who did not seek re-election, Representatives Steve Pearce, R- New Mexico, the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, and Bill Sali, R-Idaho, both of whom lost their races for the U.S. Senate, and others.

However, Benedetto did not mention the possible appointment of Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, as U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Grijalva has successfully fought to ban uranium mining and exploration near the Grand Canyon National Park, opposes the resumption of operations at the Black Mesa coal mine in Arizona, and has long advocated reform to the 1872 Mining Law.