Protect Parks from Reckless Mining

National parks and their surrounding landscapes are no place for industrial mining. NPCA is working to reform outdated mining laws, protect parks from rushed and reckless development, and ensure these iconic places are preserved for future generations.

Blog Post

Why Do We Need Mining Law Reform? Just Look to Grand Canyon’s Pinyon Plain Mine

The 1872 Mining Law – yes, that’s when it was written! – is out of date. NPCA is among the groups advocating for mining law reform to better protect national…

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National parks are some of the most cherished places in the country, protected for their scenic beauty, wildlife, clean water and cultural heritage. But beneath the surface, private entities have filed over 3,700 mining claims within the boundaries of national parks and monuments.

Parks such as Canyonlands National Park and Mojave National Preserve are already facing threats from exploration and development that could harm wildlife, rare plant species and distinctive landscapes.

Mining has also caused irreversible damage to park ecology, leaving behind permanently contaminated water sources, such as those along the Grand Canyon’s historic Tonto Trail.

An outdated mining law from 1872 still governs mining on public lands, allowing companies to operate with little oversight and leaving taxpayers to cover the costs of damaged landscapes and abandoned mines.

NPCA is pushing for reforms that protect national parks by preventing harmful mining activity within national parks and nearby landscapes, providing funding to clean up abandoned mines, and holding industry — not taxpayers — accountable for the pollution and damage caused by mining.

With commonsense reforms, we can protect our parks and the communities and cultures that depend on them.