The American Exploration & Mining Association (AEMA) filed a law suit against the Federal Government today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to overturn the Sage-Grouse Great Basin and Rocky Mountain Records of Decision and underlying land use plan amendments in seven western states. AEMA becomes the latest to challenge the federal land use plan amendments for Sage Grouse conservation following lawsuits lodged by the states of Idaho, Utah, nine Nevada counties, the Wyoming Coalition of Local Governments, ranchers, miners and various industry groups. The illegal, draconian land use restrictions and mineral withdrawals have restricted multiple-use and economic access to millions of acres of federal land across ten western states.
“Internal government documents have shown what AEMA has long known to be true, that politics pushed this pre-determined policy, completely disregarding actual scientific findings and statutory authorities.”said Laura Skaer, AEMA Executive Director. “Secretary Jewell and the federal administration have to explain why the BLM ignored its own staff’s advice in favor of a reverse-engineered process to lock out the public from federal lands.”
Mountain States Legal Foundation is representing AEMA. You can read the complaint at www.miningamerica.org.
Skaer added, “These land use restrictions are a blatant overreach by the BLM and a thinly veiled attempt to impose a top-down policy completely disregarding states efforts, statutory requirements and public involvement.” The restrictions have a devastating economic impact on the economies of western states and the ability of our Nation to produce the strategic and critical minerals required for national defense and economic prosperity.
American Exploration & Mining Association (AEMA) is a 121-year old, 2,100 member national association representing the minerals industry with members residing in 42 U.S. states, seven Canadian provinces or territories, and 10 other countries. AEMA is the recognized national voice for exploration, the junior mining sector, and maintaining access to public lands, and represents the entire mining life cycle, from exploration to reclamation and closure.