Now U.S. copper mines under attack

WND.com ^ | 07/13/2013 | WND Radio

[DannyTN]

80 billion lbs. of metal could 'wipe out American import dependency'

On the heels of the Obama administration clamping down on oil and gas exploration and President Obama declaring what many consider to be a war on coal, environmental groups are now urging the government to deny exploration of the world’s largest known copper reserve before the permitting process even begins.

... “When a mining project goes into the permitting process, there are local avenues for some of the permits; there are state avenues for some of the permits and federal as well,” McGroarty said. “So it’s multi-layered, and it takes an average of seven to 10 years for a mine to get through that process once begun. I have looked at Pebble, and my understanding is that they would require upward of 60 different types of permits from the state, local and federal levels. So there would be an enormous amount of scrutiny put on the mine plan.

“What some of the environmental groups are saying is they don’t want that process to even begin. ...

McGroarty said if the EPA starts down this road, the economic impact on this nation could be immense.

'''

[DannyTN]

I know many freepers are vehemently anti-epa. I think Congress simply needs to put checks and balances on the EPA to keep it from being abusive.

This article outlines a new abusive method to stop mining from ever even entering a permitting process.

The fact that there are over 60 permits required by various local/state/Federal agencies and a 7 to 10 year process to open a mine is ridiculous.

[JRandomFreeper]

Environmental protection is legitimately a police power of the States. And every state has an environmental agency.

The federal EPA needs to be disbanded. It's federal government overreach into States powers.

/johnny

[kingattax]

imagine eating only grubs and berries, living in a mud hut, wearing feathers, and singing “Ain’t this just a paradise ?”

that’s what these Aholes have in mind for us.....IF WE ALLOW IT !

[umgud]

The EPA is the fourth branch of government.

[Paladin2]

"living in a mud hut"

I'd hold out for a Teepee with a ring of rocks on a bluff.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Isn’t it ironic that George H. (Bush I) styled himself as the “environmental president?” Concern for the environment is one thing, today’s EPA as an instrument of political control is another. We’ve come a long way, baby, in only 20 years.

[DannyTN]

"The federal EPA needs to be disbanded. It's federal government overreach into States powers."

If pollution didn't cross state lines, I'd agree with you. But it does, and that means some of it needs to be dealt with at a federal level.

This mine only affects Alaska, unless water runnoff would affect Canada or the oceans. So maybe that's one of the checks that needs to be put in. That the pollution regulated by the EPA must be shown to cross state lines, or of the kind that would be expected to cross state lines. And then it should be subjected to judiciary review, not administrative court review. Administrative courts too often get cozy with the agency they are supposed to have oversight of.

[beef]

When the EPA was created, smog blotted out the sun, rivers were catching on fire, and the bald eagle was just about extinct. People were rightly concerned about these things and wanted something done. Today, they have gone far beyond that charter. They are staffed by zealots who have declared war on the Industrial Revolution. A good reining in and cleaning out is in order.

[KoRn]

We are probably the only nation in the history of the world that could discover a resource within its territory that would benefit each and every citizen, and a good number of its people will try like hell to NOT put it to good use....

We’re just incalculably STUPID!!!

[Alberta's Child]

The dirty little secret of the EPA is that many (probably most) of its policy decisions have nothing to do with protecting the environment. In a case like this, you'll probably find that some industry that produces alternative materials to copper has lobbied heavily in Washington to get these stupid regulations in place.

Another good example of this is the Keystone XL pipeline issue. The Obama administration isn't opposed to Keystone XL on environmental grounds. It's blocking the construction of the pipeline because the railroad industry (including the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, which is wholly owned by Warren Buffett) is moving crude oil all over North America.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The Rats won’t be in power forever.

[EQAndyBuzz]

You all know there is a way to stop the environmental groups without firing a shot? It is simple and powerful and the most useful tool to shut down the left.

It’s called a lawsuit. And another lawsuit. And another lawsuit. It was telegraphed during Sarah Palin’s time as Governor. It’s a tactic of the left.

But more importantly, it was a strategic move by Ronald Reagan against the Soviets. Bankrupt them. Force them to defend themselves. Sue them. Then sue them again. Best of all, right now we have the country on our side. High gas prices, high food prices can be tagged on the environmental movement.

It is time we start treating them like the POS Marxists they truly are.

[tacticalogic]

James Madison would agree with that, I think:

"It is very certain that [the Commerce Clause] grew out of the abuse of the power by the importing States in taxing the non-importing, and was intended as a negative and preventive provision against injustice among the States themselves, rather than as a power to be used for the positive purposes of the General Government."

James Madison to Joseph Cabell

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

The leadership of the EPA, for the most part, esp. the political appointees, are beyond salvaging. Honest employees are lower down on the food chain.

Carol Browner - socialist, International Socialists organization
Lisa Jackson (just resigned recently), Browner’s protege’ and rabid marxist
Gina McCarthy- present EPA administrator. I’m afraid of her. Very extreme and possibly a back alley fighter.

There are some very good EPA programs and some that are designed by marxists to cripple our economic system in the name of snail darter fish. There are also some leftist judges who are helping them.

Meanwhile people can’t get jobs, the Red China have a vise on our nuts vis-a-vis “rare earth” minerals necessary for national defense, among other things, and Russia will probably make another attempt to become the number one supplier of Gold and some other precious metals badly needed by the electronics industry, among others.

Some environmental groups are legit; some are far-left marxists and eco-wackos. The Left opposes everything no matter how good or bad it is. Their goal is to destroy our economy, not improve it. Sierra Club has gone far left. Natural Resources Defense Fund has always been left. Same with EarthWatch, Environmental Action Fund/Foundation, and elements within the National Wildlife Federation (which my wife once worked for). The Center for Biological Diversity is the arch-type of the “neo-progressives” organization - well funded, educated staff (not necessarily smart staff), and dedicated to “environment uber alles”.

You’d be surprised at how many leftist groups there are concerning the environment. They Left got smart in the late 80’s/early 90’s. They seized on the “Green Movement” and got control of a significant portion of it, and the foundations money that came with it.

We are talking tens of millions of dollars, or more. They are a well funded marxist/progressive/liberal army, like the jungle ants of Brazil, marching over everything in their way.

The EPA is both their friend and their enemy, but they often sue the EPA in order to get “friendly decisions” in which they are paid large settlement accounts including attorneys’ fees. Big scam operation which needs immediate House congressional hearings.

Congress is NOT going to “put checks and balances on the EPA” until it recognizes that the EPA is the “enemy” of our economic system, not necessarily the savior of it.

Defunding some of its operations will partially cripple it. Investigations might expose the marxist principles its leaders follow. Only “regime change” at the White House level is going to “reform” the EPA by cleaning out the reds and putting in some rational scientists who can balance the environment and the economy.

Don’t hold you hat for that day to come soon. Nov. 2014 elections might be the start of EPA reform but Nov. 2016 is the big enchilada, winner take all.

40,000 people or more out of work in the San Joaquin Valley farming mecca because the EPA and California reds won’t give them water while the snail darter fish is held up as a god to be worshipped by the GAIA for Lunch Bunch.

[JimSEA]

This is an example of what the socialist, grievance industry has done to domestic mining projects. This mine could have settled the problem of imported copper and provide 5,000 jobs eventually. I'm following this in part because this is the town I was born in and the mine I first went to work in at age 18. It was a good start that is no longer available to entry level and skilled workers alike. What the hell, ain't welfare grand. Not so tiring anyhow.

[null and void]

EVERYTHING obama does either:

a) Weakens America/Americans
b) Distances America's allies
c) Strengthens America's enemies
d) Serves Islam
e) Harms Israel
Or some combination of the above.

I have yet to have anyone raise a single substantive counter example in several years of posting this.

a, c...

[Roman_War_Criminal]

So instead of mining and using our own resources, we prohibit it’s extraction or ship it off elsewhere (like our oil and coal)?

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Damned straight. ‘Campfires and caves’.....while they laugh all the way to the bank.

[Political Junkie Too]

Another high demand natural resource that the global left wants to keep in the ground until the constitutional United States collapses. Then the global left will exploit the resources for their own benefit.

-PJ

[NonValueAdded]

“Brother, you asked for it!”