Wyoming Mining Industries NOT Headed For Showdown Over Property Rights
Rep Ben Hornok
February 8, 2024
When the Biden
Administration called to ask me what I can do to shut down our mining
industry in pursuit of the Green New Deal, I jumped at the chance. Or
not!
I would like to
set the record straight about my House Bill 69, “Mine permit and
reclamation plan changes – landowner approval.” In a January 30 Cowboy
State Daily article and in online forums since,
I have been outlandishly accused of colluding with the Biden
Administration. For those readers who value context and truth in
legislation, read on.
A constituent
contacted me after I was elected in 2022 to discuss a reoccurring
reclamation issue several years in the making involving a mining
operation that leases his land. Under current state statute,
mines are allowed to make minor changes, meaning changes that “do not
propose significant alterations,” to the reclamation plan. This can be
done with only administrative agency approval – and not approval of the
landowner.
If this were surgery, wouldn’t you want to be kept informed of all the minor details? House Bill 69 is intended to do just that
while still allowing mining operations to prosper in Wyoming. The
purpose of the bill is to ensure that the reclamation plan does not
deviate without the private landowner’s consent. If
the landowner does not approve of the reclamation plan changes, the
mine would simply continue to abide by the current reclamation plan.
Again, mining operations would continue.
In my
constituent’s case, several minor changes that have been approved by the
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality have resulted in what he
considers a major change to the reclamation plan and
will leave his property nearly unusable.
I believe that
our mining companies strive for reclamation plans that will satisfy the
private landowner and protect the environment. However, there could be
some bad apples, so I think it is best to
protect private property rights in state statutes.
House Bill 69
is NOT a conspiracy between me and the co-sponsors of this bill with the
federal government and Biden Administration to stop and prevent mining
in Wyoming. Far from it. If this bill is introduced,
I plan to work with all stakeholders to ensure the bill will protect
private property without imposing restrictions that hamstring mining
operations. Both mining and private property rights are cornerstones of
Wyoming, and both can thrive together.
I am a strong
proponent of the mining industry in Wyoming; the same can be said about
the co-sponsors of this bill. We are also strong proponents of private
property rights. Wyoming is largely dependent
on mining for our economy and revenue, but there is a reason we learn
how to build fences. I ran this same bill last year, and it received no
media attention. But now it’s an election year.
I am running
another important bill that is getting no media attention because it is a
strongly supported topic and it aligns with Wyoming’s conservative
values. House Bill 68, “Obscenity-impartial conformance,”
will repeal the exemption for educators and librarians which allow them
to distribute obscene materials in the classroom and libraries.
I encourage my
fellow Wyomingites to be involved in the legislative process. Become
familiar with www.wyoleg.gov. Reach out to your legislators if you have
questions or comments on bills. If there is
a bill you are passionate about, testify in committee; we hear from
plenty of lobbyists who are paid to be there, but not enough from the
public. If you will be in Cheyenne during session, attend committee
meetings or sit in the galleries to watch the floor
sessions. You can also watch everything online. I understand this is
not how everyone wants to spend their spare time, but to protect our
conservative Wyoming values, it is imperative for Wyoming voters to be
informed of all the “significant alterations.”
Ben Hornok represents House District 42 in Laramie County.