Compromise Sought On Mining Rider Bill’S Provision Would Limit Restrictions By Government

The Clinton administration is trying to strike a compromise with U.S. Sen. Harry Reid over a controversial mining rider.

The Nevada Democrat’s rider to an Interior Department spending bill would block federal agencies from adopting tough new regulations for hard-rock mining companies this fall.

Industry groups, including the Northwest Mining Association in Spokane, support the rider.

The dispute arose over a study put out by the nonpartisan National Research Council, which evaluated the effectiveness of current mining regulations.

Based on the findings, the Interior Department wants to establish new environmental standards and higher bonds. Bonds ensure that companies have the money to restore the landscape after mining is completed.

The department also wants the latitude to declare certain areas of federal land off limits to mining.

That’s been a stickler with the mining industry, which supports other parts of the study.

Through establishment of national parks and wilderness areas, the government can already deem areas off limits to mining, said Laura Skaer, the association’s executive director.

“That debate should occur on the floor of the Congress, and not be part of the permitting process,” she said.

Reid’s rider and others attached to the bill have drawn the threat of a presidential veto. Environmental groups say passage of the rider could cost the public up to $1 billion in mine clean-up costs.

“We’re not happy with it. We are trying to work it out,” said Tim Ahern, a spokesman for Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. “It’s not clear yet what we’ll do.”

Reid’s rider is similar to one that Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, tried unsuccessfully to attach to the agriculture appropriations bill.