LETTERS TO THE EDITOR — Miner miffed by Clinton administration

Regarding your editorials “NWMA vs. Babbit” (T.N.M., Sept. 21-27/98) and “Tuning out” (Nov. 2-8/98), I would like to point out the serious and perilous position in which we in the mining industry find ourselves since Mr. Clinton has been in power.

The mineral industry here in the United States is having to face the following concerns:

• A maintenance fee of US$100 per claim per year;
• The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument — a large tract of land in Utah that has been set aside, without the consultation of state politicians;
• The decision against the New World mine in Montana — From everything I have read, New World was outside Yellowstone National Park and a couple of drainages away. The runoff, which was to be totally monitored and taken care of, was to flow away from Yellowstone in the Clarks Fork River. On top of this, I recall mention that old workings were to be reclaimed and restored on top of whatever reclamation was included in the Environmental Impact Statement permitting. I believe that no cyanide was going to be incorporated in the mill processing. These types of occurrences continue to plague our industry;
• The Endangered Species Act — A constant effort is in the works to list any kind of so-called endangered species;
• Biological inventory — a nonsense requirement which wastes taxpayer funds for the purpose of counting bugs, slugs, salamanders and various plants in the field.

Who needs all of this? If I do not sympathize with our present administration, it is based on my 40 years in the mining industry relative to its six years of performance.

Wallace Vaux

Vaux Enterprises & Exploration

Blaine, Wash.