US western land up for grabs if mining law retooled

[Judi Lynn]

US western land up for grabs if mining law retooled
Mon Nov 21, 2005 2:25 PM ET

By Lisa Lambert
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats are vowing to kill a House of Representatives plan they say would allow mining companies to buy millions of acres of western federal land, including some within California's Yosemite and Joshua Tree national parks, at cheap prices.

The House voted to update a century-old mining law to sell or "patent" western land to the industry for $1,000 per acre, or fair market value. Environmental groups say that could open up as many as 350 million acres of public lands to real estate speculators and oil companies, not just mining firms.

The land sale, introduced by Nevada Republican Jim Gibbons, was included in a $50 billion budget-cutting bill the House narrowly approved last week. It was not in the Senate's $35 billion version of a budget reduction bill.

Next month, House and Senate negotiators will try to reconcile both bills into a final one and some Senate Democrats say they are determined to delete the land sale measure.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=reutersEdge&storyID=2005-11-21T192543Z_01_HO169900_RTRUKOC_0_US-BIZFEATURE-ENVIRONMENT-MINING.xml

[natrat]

1. this is serious shit

[Judi Lynn]

2. Rep. Jim Gibbon's not doing American citizens any favors

with his land grab bill. Once it's stolen, it's gone. There ain't no more.



Maybe he can get a better car with the kick backs he'll be getting!

[Moderator]

3. kick

[UpInArms]

4. US western land up for grabs if mining law retooled

http://today.reuters.com/PrinterFriendlyPopup.aspx?type=reutersEdge&storyID=uri:2005-11-21T194214Z_01_HO169900_RTRUKOC_0_US-BIZFEATURE-ENVIRONMENT-MINING.xml

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats are vowing to kill a House of Representatives plan they say would allow mining companies to buy millions of acres of western federal land, including some within California's Yosemite and Joshua Tree national parks, at cheap prices.

The House voted to update a century-old mining law to sell or "patent" western land to the industry for $1,000 per acre, or fair market value. Environmental groups say that could open up as many as 350 million acres of public lands to real estate speculators and oil companies, not just mining firms.

The land sale, introduced by Nevada Republican Jim Gibbons, was included in a $50 billion budget-cutting bill the House narrowly approved last week. It was not in the Senate's $35 billion version of a budget reduction bill.

Next month, House and Senate negotiators will try to reconcile both bills into a final one and some Senate Democrats say they are determined to delete the land sale measure.

"It would result in a deeply troubling outcome," said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a New Mexico Democrat. He described the House plan as a "fire sale" that would hurt national parks and forests and have "far-reaching negative consequences."

...more...

[UpInArms]

5. related (imho): Standard Pacific buys 2,675 acres in Las Vegas

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2005-11-22T152001Z_01_WEN4939_RTRIDST_0_FINANCIAL-STANDARDPACIFIC-URGENT.XML

NEW YORK, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Standard Pacific Corp. (SPF.N: Quote, Profile, Research)said the company and its partners were the successful bidders for 2,675 acres in North Las Vegas from the Bureau of Land Management.

Standard Pacific will partner with Olympia Group, American West Homes, Astoria Homes and D.R. Horton (DHI.N: Quote, Profile, Research) to develop a master-planned community that will include 12,000 to 14,000 single-family homes, townhomes and apartments, along with shopping centers, parks, schools and other amenities.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2007, and to continue over six to eight years. D.R. Horton will purchase 20 percent of the lots.

...short blurb...

[ixion]

6. yeah, and it's a giveaway specifically to big business...

heavy hitters only.

Here's a taste:

http://propertydisposal.gsa.gov/property/PropForSale/ShowProperty.ASP?PropertyID=1390


Parcel No APN or Status Acres Fair Market Value High Bid
N77348 161-28-401-013 3.75 $33,300.00 $125,000
*N78217 124-14-000-001, 124-15-000-001, 124-16-101-001, 124-21-501-001, 124-23-501-001 2,073.894 $360,000,000.00 $639,000,000
N79498 Pt. 126-02-101-018 5.0 $1,270,000.00 $2,000,000
N79499 Pt 126-02-101-018 5.0 $1,270,000.00 $2,250,000
N79500 Pt. 126-13-501-002 2.5 $1,520,000.00 $2,600,000
N79501 Pt 126-25-401-006 10.0 $4,000,000.00 $6,150,000
N79502 125-19-301-002 5.0 $2,000,000.00 $2,950,000
N79503 125-19-301-008 5.0 $2,000,000.00 No Bid
N79504 125-29-201-004 5.0 $2,000,000.00 $2,600,000
N79505 125-30-502-010 5.0 $2,000,000.00 $2,000,000
N79506 Pt 125-30-601-009 2.5 $1,000,000.00 No Bid
N79507 Pt 138-06-301-006 2.5 $750,000.00 $750,000
N79508 Pt 138-06-301-006 2.5 $1,000,000.00 No Bid
N79509 138-22-701-006 5.0 $3,267,000.00 $4,650,000
N79510 Pt 163-09-201-002 5.0 $3,000,000.00 $4,900,000
N79511 Pt 163-09-201-002 10.0 $6,000,000.00 $10,775,000
N79512 176-10-502-002 5.0 $3,270,000.00 $4,400,000
N79513 Pt 176-13-501-027 10.0 $4,200,000.00 $6,200,000
N79514 Pt 176-13-501-027 2.5 $713,000.00 $750,000
N79515 Pt 176-13-501-027 2.5 $713,000.00 $900,000
N79516 Pt 176-13-501-027 2.5 $738,000.00 $875,000
N79517 Pt 176-13-501-027 2.5 $713,000.00 $925,000
N79518 Pt 176-13-501-027 2.5 $713,000.00 $900,000
N79519 Pt 176-13-501-027 2.5 $738,000.00 $900,000
N79520 Pt 176-14-701-036 10.0 $3,500,000.00 $7,350,000
N79521 Pt 176-15-801-014 7.5 $4,570,000.00 $7,100,000
N79522 Pt 176-16-601-009 2.5 $930,000.00 $1,010,000
N79523 Pt 176-16-601-009 2.5 $930,000.00 $950,000
N79524 Pt 176-16-601-009 2.5 $930,000.00 $930,000
N79525 Pt 176-16-601-009 2.5 $930,000.00 $930,000
N79526 Pt 176-17-801-015 10.0 $4,200,000.00 $7,700,000
N79527 Pt 176-19-101-008 2.5 $840,000.00 $1,275,000
N79528 Pt 176-19-101-008 2.5 $721,000.00 $950,000
N79529 Pt 176-19-101-008 2.5 $718,000.00 $920,000
N79530 Pt 176-19-101-008 2.5 $718,000.00 $1,100,000
N79531 Pt 176-19-101-008 2.5 $742,000.00 $1,175,000
N79532 Pt 176-19-101-008, 176-19-201-003 14.375 $6,108,000.00 $8,550,000

[senaca]

7. kick n/t

[Megahurtz]

8. Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!

:grr::mad:

[WhiteTara]

9. I've been posting about this for the

past two weeks. I'm glad to see it getting more attention. THis is probably the most serious threat to our country in a long time. And boy is that saying something! Please call your reps and senators and say no to the land give away!