The United States Plans To Ban Mining in Northern New Mexico For 50 Years

The U.S. Department of the Interior has banned new mining rights and oil and gas development for nearly 50 years in the Placitas area of Sandoval County in northern New Mexico to protect Native American lands and advance parts of the responsible Mining program on public lands. The proposed ban covers an area of more than 4,200 hectares and would affect four separate areas, including the Buffalo area and the Montezuma Ridge, northeast of Albuquerque. Back in August, the Congressional Budget Office released a report saying the areas affected by the potential ban are rich in sand and gravel, but don't have enough other mineral resources worth developing into mines. In addition, Sandoval County, which is covered by the ban, has many mines and mineral resource prospects, including graphite, gold, silver, uranium, lead and copper, which can be mined or have been mined. Last week, the U.S. Department of the Interior said it plans to revise a 151-year-old law governing the mining of copper, gold and other minerals on public lands. In addition, the Interior Department has proposed establishing a mine leasing system and coordinating licensing efforts among a range of federal agencies.