I made a short-form video about Nevada’s mining pit lakes for use on social media just before an upcoming hearing on AB313 in the Nevada Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee. It has over 10,000 combined views across platforms. I wanted to share it with subscribers here.
I have discussed before in this space about the limitations of representative democracy in its current forms. On this issue and every issue there are well-paid lobbyists creeping through the halls of legislative buildings, persuading and threatening lawmakers, dangling their massive campaign contributions to get their way. Both parties are rewarded handsomely by most industries.
Even when they do pass reasonable legislation, there’s always going to be the chance that the courts will strike them down because of some concept of “due process” and the property rights of the wealthy overriding the interests of the public.
Nonetheless, we try because sometimes these bodies can make a big difference. Legislation similar to AB313 has already been passed in other places, including neighboring California. The law simply requires mining companies to fill in the gaping holes they make when they dip down below the water table. This will ensure we don’t have enormous pit lakes of toxic mining tailings.
Industry reps testified it would ruin the mining industry and the economy, costing jobs… you know all the bullshit they say that prevents anything good from happening on any issue… things that would help and protect the majority of us.
Still, grassroots advocacy and lobbying in the halls of government is one front that ought to be fought earnestly on in defense of the environment.
I like to cite to a recent National Monument designated by Joe Biden that reserves 500,000 acres of prime Nevada Mojave Desert habitat into perpetuity. Hopefully. It is now safe from solar and wind development, with the exception of a small area near Searchlight, which needs to be watched.
Legislation on mining needs to happen soon. With the transition to solar, electric, hydro and the like in an attempt to replace fossil fuels, 10,000s of mines will need to be open. It’s a Mordor economy, searching for control over carbon emissions.
Every pit mine we get backfilled, hell, every tree we save, is a win.
The legal system is not likely up to the challenge of turning around our ecological crisis. It will take people on the ground fighting back. But it is a place where successes can be seen.
So if you live in Nevada, please reach out to the committee and ask them to keep this bill moving forward. You can connect with PLAN, a local organization getting people together on this action, here: http://tinyurl.com/help-pass-ab313
