Petty politics trumped reason and the environment today as House Bill 1165 was voted down on Wednesday (4/1) in the Colorado House Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources Committee.

Our legislature failed to lift the veil of secrecy that surrounds mining, and we're disappointed in those representatives who sided with the mining industry over Coloradans and our environment.

The scope of the bill was amended to include just the sunshine provisions affecting exploratory mining operations as part of a good faith compromise effort on behalf of the bill’s house sponsors. Those voting in opposition of the amended bill included: Rep. Mary Hodge (D-Brighton), Rep. Marsha Looper (R-Colorado Springs), Rep. Wes McKinley (D-Walsh), Rep. Frank McNulty (R-Highlands Ranch), Rep. Ray Rose (R-Montrose), and Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling).

Compared to other states, Colorado stands alone in the West by keeping all prospecting information confidential, even when local landowners and the environment could be directly impacted. Coloradans deserve the right-to-know about mine drilling and exploration that could threaten their property, groundwater and environment, while protecting truly proprietary mining information such as drill and well log data. 

Mining exploration activities can come at a huge expense to local landowners, water quality, and our unspoiled mountains and prairie landscapes. Companies have a responsibility to inform the public of activities that could directly impact local communities and the environment.