It’s Time to Close California’s Mining Loophole

California’s State Mining and Geology Board is proposing a new regulation to guide the process for exempting mining projects from the state’s most important mining law, the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act. A loophole in the law allows some mining projects to skip over important environmental protections.

The board is proposing a new regulation to standardize the exemption process. But their proposal comes up short: it still allows decisions to be made behind closed doors, without a fair say for tribes and local communities.

Sign the comment below to urge the board to revise it.