Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Shale shock on the western slope

Journal Article · · Sierra; (United States)
OSTI ID:5624230
In 1872, congress passed a law designed to promote frontier settlement. This law, the 1872 Mining Law, allows the government to grant a patent(full title rather than a lease) on oil-shale and other hardrock mineral claims that require drilling. This law which was written in the day of the pick and shovel is the only remaining statute that allows the outright disposal of public lands. In November 6, 1986, several energy companies, including EXXON, Union Oil of California, Tosco Corporation, and Phillips Petroleum, took title to 82,000 acres of public land at a fee of $2.50 per acre. This land was worth $164,000,000.00 but the federal government added only $205,000.00 to its treasury. Environmentalists claim that the patents set up under this law deny the government control over wildlife lands on the Rocky Mountains' western slope because they contain no requirements for the reclamation of lands scarred by the mining that may take place, because they bar the government from collecting royalties, and because they do not require the claim holder to mine the property. The property may be developed for other commercial uses such as residential subdivisions. The Sierra Club is lobbying to get the Department of interior to vigorously challenge the authenticity of old claims set up under this 1872 law.
OSTI ID:
5624230
Journal Information:
Sierra; (United States), Journal Name: Sierra; (United States) Vol. 72:3; ISSN SIERE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Oil shale mining claims. Hearing before the Subcommittee on Mineral Resources Development and Production of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundredth Congress, First Session, October 16, 1987
Book · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1987 · OSTI ID:5584959
Environmental regulation of hardrock mining on public lands: bringing the 1872 law up to date
Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1979 · Harvard Environ. Law Rev.; (United States) · OSTI ID:6941097
Coping with the General Mining Law of 1872 in the 1980's
Journal Article · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1980 · Land Water Law Rev.; (United States) · OSTI ID:6349416

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040000 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
LAND USE
LEGISLATION
MATERIALS
MINERAL RIGHTS
MINING
MOUNTAINS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OIL SHALES
PATENTS
PUBLIC LANDS
ROCKY MOUNTAINS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS