The New Land Rush: Mining Claims Encroaching on National Parks

1.3K+

mine claims inside of National Park Service units

A new analysis by the National Parks Conservation Association reveals more than 1,300 mine claims exist within the boundaries of units managed by the National Park Service.

In total, 3,700+ claims fall within the boundaries of national parks and national monuments.

Across the U.S., 490,000+ mining claims are currently held on federal public lands, representing a 27% increase since 2019.

Over 120,000 of those claims are located within just 30 miles of a national park or national monument.

NPCA has mapped hardrock mine claims on federal public lands (not including claims on private, state, or Tribal land) to reveal the scale of mining activity near some of our most iconic and vulnerable national parks.

Mining Claims Within National Parks Interactive Map ›

The Threat of Mining to National Parks

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mine claims within a national park site or national monument

Our national parks are celebrated as wild and pristine places, and polls consistently show Americans across the political spectrum support protecting them. Yet mining claims still exist within national parks and monuments, and new projects are rapidly advancing across the West.

The problem lies in our outdated mining law. Passed in 1872, the General Mining Law still governs mining today, offering little oversight and leaving parks, connected waterways and wildlife habitat, vulnerable to industrial impacts.

The legacy of this outdated system is already visible, with thousands of miles of polluted waterways damaged by heavy metals. Abandoned mines, including over 38,000 abandoned land mine features inside of national parks, threaten visitor safety and wildlife, while taxpayers are left to shoulder cleanup costs.

Protecting Parks through Mining Reform

120K+

mine claims within 30 miles of a national park site or national monument

Mining must be done responsibly, ensuring that the natural and cultural resources within national parks and monuments remain fully protected. We are advocating for commonsense, bipartisan reforms that:

• Prevent new mining development within national parks.
• Place guardrails on the potential development of more than 1,000 existing mining claims within the national park system.
• Empower land management agencies like the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management to direct mining claims toward lower-conflict areas and avoid sensitive areas, including those important for conservation.
• Fund the cleanup of abandoned mines including those on park lands.
• Hold industry accountable for pollution and mine waste, rather than taxpayers.
• Respect Tribal sovereignty and ensure consultation early and often with Tribal communities impacted by mining.
• Ensure industry pays their fair share to communities for the minerals they extract from public lands.

Explore the Data

25%

of mining claims on all public lands are near a national park or monument

NPCA has created the following resources to help partners, policymakers, and the public better understand the scale and proximity of mining near our national parks:

• Interactive Mine Claim Map: Explore mining claims located within and adjacent to NPS-managed parks and monuments.

• Fact Sheets: Download the key facts and numbers on mining threats for each state in the West, linked at the top of this page.

• 30-Mile Map PDFs: View and download these maps of mining activity within a 30 mile radius of national parks and monuments.

Active Claims Near National Park units and National Monuments

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Active Mines Near National Park units and National Monuments

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