Ms. Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 (202) 208-4743
[email protected] Mr. Tom Vilsack, Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250 (202) 720-2791
[email protected] Mr. Neil Kornze, Director U.S. Bureau of Land Management 1849 C Street NW, Rm. 5665 Washington DC 20240 (202) 208-3801
[email protected] Mr. Tom Tidwell, Chief U.S. Forest Service 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-0003 (800) 832-1355
[email protected] August 25, 2015 Dear Secretary Jewell, Secretary Vilsack, Director Kornze, and Chief Tidwell: Through this letter and the attached resolutions of support, this coalition of tribal nations, local governments, and organizations, hereby petitions for the issuance of amended regulations governing mining on public lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”), within the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service (“Forest Service”), within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This petition seeks changes to the existing rules governing mining on BLM and Forest Service-managed lands, particularly those rules governing uranium mining and mining operations that lapse into long periods of inactivity at the expense of public and environmental health. In particular, we submit that four changes to the existing rules will bring them into compliance with governing legal mandates and better protect human health and the environment: 1. Limit the duration of approved plans of operations to 20 years, with the option to apply for 20-year renewals.