النص الكامل لحلقة Development Misconceptions

stacks of needles. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:24.319 And you've got one hour to find the right one. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:26.800 Yikes, I would not want to do that. 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:30.240 So what regulations actually govern exploration? 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:31.840 I know mining has a ton. 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:40.080 Exploration does too, albeit a fewer, because exploration is considered low impact by many agencies. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:50.479 The permitting process is much simpler than permitting a mine, but exploration still has to follow all applicable environmental regulations and drill hole plugging rules. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:59.840 In South Dakota, the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources houses the Minerals, Mining, and Superfund Division, which oversees all exploration activities. 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:01.759 Even on federal lands? 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:02.319 Yep. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:13.439 If a company wants to explore on public or federal lands, they have to apply with the appropriate federal agency and file an exploration notice of intent with the state. 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:16.960 They have to follow both sets of regulations. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:30.000 They also file annual reports, and Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources representatives must be notified when drill holes are plugged so they can be present and make sure everything meets state standards. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:38.159 They also monitor reclamation very closely and ultimately have the final say on if anything was reclaimed incorrectly. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:38.960 Wow. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:42.479 So exploration is definitely regulated very well. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:44.319 Oh, definitely. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:48.560 What do exploration projects actually bring to the community, though? 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:51.039 Besides a chance of a discovery, of course. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:53.039 That is a great question. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:55.360 And they actually bring a lot. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:58.879 Exploration projects often run for multiple years. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:03.759 They contribute to the local economy, they bring jobs, and they spend money locally. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:09.439 Groceries, hardware, fuel, housing, even recreation for their employees. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:13.520 And if there's local talent with the skills they need, they hire them. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:17.199 I've heard that companies even partner with universities sometimes. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:18.560 Oh, absolutely. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:20.240 That's how I got my start. 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:26.000 And I've seen companies sponsor sports teams, host community events, plant trees. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:27.920 They really do get involved. 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:29.839 What about mining projects? 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:32.000 Well, very similar benefits. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:38.959 Mines can operate for years or even decades, supporting not just the immediate community, but surrounding ones too. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:47.680 Employees live in the area, shop, recreate, raise families, and companies support local businesses, universities, and community initiatives. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:49.759 That's actually so interesting. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:53.839 There's a whole ecosystem per se around these projects. 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:55.439 I love that. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:57.360 It is exactly right. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:03.120 Something I've always wondered is how much land does mining actually take up in the US? 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:05.439 Ooh, I love this fact. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:10.319 In the US, golf courses take up about 2 million acres of land. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:22.879 Mining on federal lands uses about 1.3 million acres, which is only about 0.12% of the total land area of the country. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:26.800 So less than golf courses, but still not even 1%? 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:27.920 Nope. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:31.839 Airports and golf courses take up way more land space. 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:33.839 What about water usage? 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:43.120 Well, fun fact: according to the USGS, mining operations use about 1% of all water withdrawals in the US. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:52.480 And of that 1%, about 72% of that water comes from underground sources, and 28% comes from surface water sources. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:54.560 So really not much water at all. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:55.839 Well, exactly. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:06:06.000 People often hear water usage numbers in gallons per day, which sounds huge, but without context, gallons per day can be extremely misleading. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:10.959 That means that mining doesn't use much land or water when you look at the big picture of things. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:12.720 Absolutely correct. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:14.399 Okay, last question. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:19.199 What is the 1872 mining law and how does it relate to claims on federal lands? 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:21.360 Oh, that is a great question. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:24.480 And let's break it down a little bit further. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:29.680 What the law is, what a claim is, and how they connect. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:31.600 That sounds good to me. 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:37.040 So the 1872 mining law was signed on May 10th, 1872. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:38.560 Crazy, I know. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:40.480 It allows any U.S. 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:48.720 citizen or company to stake claims and explore for hard rock minerals on available federal lands. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:50.800 You said hard rock minerals? 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:51.680 What are those? 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:56.800 Yeah, so they're essentially just solid mineral ores, usually metals. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:58.160 Okay, now I've got it. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:10.639 A mining claim is a specific parcel of public land where someone has the legal right to process, explore, and potentially extract minerals, according to the Bureau of Land Management. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:14.560 And staking a claim doesn't mean drilling or mining is happening. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:20.720 People often stake multiple claims so they can explore them over time without someone else jumping in first. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.079 That means that staking more claims gives you more flexibility. 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:25.199 Exactly. 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:27.920 And the public can still recreate on those lands. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:29.519 Cattle can still graze. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:33.040 Staking a claim does not block access. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:35.759 It just protects your discovery if you make one. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:36.800 That makes sense. 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:40.160 But how do the law and claims actually tie together? 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:46.240 The 1872 mining law is what gives citizens the right to stake claims and explore. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:52.399 It keeps mineral development open for everyone, not just companies, and not just on private land. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:08:00.879 But modern permitting and environmental regulations still apply to any exploration or mining activity on said lands. 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:07.839 That means that the law works alongside today's regulations to allow exploration while keeping environmental protections in place. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:09.040 Exactly. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:12.000 Okay, let me recap to see if I've got this all right. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:16.399 Exploration is not mining, and most exploration projects never become mines. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:21.199 Mineral development projects support local economies and often partner with universities. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:23.360 Mining uses less than 1% of U.S. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:24.959 land and about 1% of U.S. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:26.079 water withdrawals. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:32.720 And the 1872 mine law allows citizens to state claims, working in tandem with modern permitting rules. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:34.080 Perfect summary. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.919 I couldn't have said it better myself. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:39.120 I feel way more prepared to talk about mineral development now. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:40.960 Well, and that's the end goal. 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:49.759 The world is complicated, and with mineral demand rising, people deserve clear, factual information so they can make informed decisions. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:08.000 Join us next time as we discuss mining and the permitting process that lies beneath its surface.