U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary

John Wright (202)208-6416


For Release: September 11, 1996

The antiquated law passed by President Grant is a poor return on the nation’s natural resources

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt today signed two mining patents under the archaic mining law of 1872. The first patent covers 100 acres (5 lode claims) to be awarded to Maga Copper Company, at its superior mine in Arizona. The second patent awarded to N.B. Tweet & Sons, is a group of 58 placer claims, totaling about 1,071 acres, 95 miles north of Nome, Alaska, on the Steward Peninsula.

"Once again I’m being forced to give away the American public’s hard earned heritage," said Babbitt. "Under the 1872 Mining Law, with the stroke of a pen, I must transfer 56 million dollars worth of copper for just five hundred dollars. That’s five dollars per acre. That’s the law. That’s an outrage."

Under the 1872 Mining Law, the Maga Copper Company will pay $500 for an ore body of copper (with some associated gold and silver) with a gross estimated value of $56.5 million. The mine is part of a producing underground mine that has been in production off and on since 1911.

N.B. Tweet & Sons will pay $2,800 ($2.50 an acre) to mine gold ore with a gross value estimated to be nearly $40 million. Gold has been produced from this area since the turn of the century.

"With the strong support and leadership of President Clinton, we can pass a real mining reform that restores and protects our watersheds and that gives taxpayers a fair return on their rich national legacy. Let’s end the giveaway right now," Babbitt said.

The 1872 Mining Law passed when Ulysses S. Grant was president, forces the Interior Secretary to give away billions of dollars worth of gold, platinum, copper, silver and other hardrock minerals. Since taking office in January 1993, Secretary Babbitt signed 29 mining patents, with mining companies paying the taxpayers $25,000 for publicly owned resources valued at over $15 billion.

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A radio message from Secretary Babbitt announcing the mining patents can be heard by calling 800/521-3370.