Action Alerts

The clean energy transition should not be built on dirty mining

What's At Stake

We face an existential climate crisis and must move quickly to build the solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and electric vehicles that will power our clean energy transition away from fossil fuels. But this clean energy transition should not be built on dirty mining that hurts communities and the environment. It’s past time to reform our dirty mining laws for a more just and equitable clean energy future and reject false solutions that further weaken mining regulations.

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Mining on public lands in the U.S. continues to be governed by the 1872 Mining Law, which fails to provide even basic protections for our shared public lands and the communities that call those lands home. More than a century of reckless mining has poisoned our air, waters, and lands — and has disproportionately impacted Indigenous communities. We must address the shortcomings of the archaic 1872 Mining Law, and we need your help with taking this to the next level.

Rep. Raul M. Grijalva and Senator Martin Heinrich just reintroduced the Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act that would mandate strong environmental protections, a fair return to taxpayers by requiring a new royalty on hardrock mining operations, and the creation of a well-funded abandoned mine cleanup fund to address long-standing hazards to wildlife habitats and human health. Additionally, the bill would protect tribal sacred sites and water and land resources that have been disproportionately impacted by mining operations.

Despite the availability of solutions that protect people and the environment, others in Congress are pushing false solutions like the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act that would further weaken mining laws — and justifying them under the guise of climate action. We can, and must, avoid repeating the mistakes of the fossil fuel era by updating the archaic mining law and meeting the demand for critical minerals in the most sustainable way possible: by recycling, reusing, and extending the life of materials and products we already have. Research demonstrates the significant potential for recycling to offset demand for newly mined metals for electric vehicle batteries. Effectively recycling end-of-life batteries could reduce global Electric Vehicle (EV) mineral demand 55% for newly mined copper, 25% for lithium, and 35% for cobalt and nickel by 2040. While we understand some mining must occur, it must proceed in the most sustainable way possible with strong environmental and public health protections. The status quo — which has destroyed 40% of headwaters in the western U.S. — is not the answer.

We need you to urge more of our representatives to support crucial mining reforms and reject false solutions, so our clean energy transition proceeds in a just and equitable way. Send a letter to your representatives today!

Emigrant Gulch aerial view looking east from Emigrant Peak. There are mine claims on both sides of the gulch on both private and public land.
Emigrant Gulch aerial view looking east from Emigrant Peak. There are mine claims on both sides of the gulch on both private and public land. (Photo courtesy of William Campbell)

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Your Actions Matter

Your messages make a difference, even if we have leaders who don't want to listen. Here's why.

You level the playing field.

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Throughout each of the public comment periods we alert you to, Earthjustice’s attorneys are researching and writing in-depth, technical comments to submit — detailing how the regulation could and should be stronger to protect the environment, our communities, and our planet.

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When the public responds with a huge outpouring of support for environmental protections, these individual messages collectively undercut politicians' attempts to claim otherwise.

What this means is each of us can take a role in shaping the rules our government creates — and ensuring those rules are fair and effective.