Just came across this on another board, got permission from the author to post here. Please take a look at the TU link below and readon...

"I wouldn't normally pull politics into this forum, but this is a conservation issue with the potential for major impact on the habitats we love. The run-down is this: quietly slipped into (without any public hearings), the House Reconciliation Bill (4241) , which will be voted on soon, is a provision that actually makes the 1872 Mining Law even more lax than it already is by allowing public lands to be sold off to mining and other development interests which merely express an interest in the land for $1000.00 an acre.

Over half the blue ribbon trout streams in the U.S. are on public lands, and contain some of the best remaining habitat for migrating salmon and steelhead. And, as we've seen time and time again, mines generally get placed near available water sources.

This legislation would also reverse a 30-year old Congressional mandate that public lands stay in public ownership.

If you disagree with these measures, you can send a letter to your Represenative via TU from this link: [url=http://www.tu.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=7dJEKTNuFmG&b=376957&auid=1236013:16c af]http://www.tu.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=7dJEKTNuFmG&b=376957&auid=1236013[/url:16caf]

Thanks."

I sent the e-mail only takes a minute and goes right to your state representative.

Best,

-John