On July 12, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4402, the "National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012," legislation sponsored by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) by a vote of 256-160.  A total of 22 Democrats supported the legislation while no Republicans voted against it.   And Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn was a leader in spearheading the effort to pass the legislation, along with Rep. Mike Coffman.  Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) and Rep. Doc Hastings (R- Wash.) co-sponsored the bill.  

      All Colorado Republicans in Congress voted for the bill; while all Colorado Democrats (Jared Polis, Dianna DeGette, and Ed Perlmutter) voted against the bill.   The House also defeated five democratic amendments including an amendment by Rep. Markey (D-Mass.) that would have placed a 12.5 percent gross royalty on hardrock minerals, and an amendment by Rep. Tonko (D- N.Y.) that would have narrowly defined "critical minerals."  Rep. Perlmutter voted against the imposition of the 12.5 per cent royalty.   

 

     NMA's ACT Online grassroots program yielded 2188 letters to members of Congress.  NMA also generated a coalition letter (attached) that was sent to the Hill with support from 26 national and state trade associations.   CMA weighed in with the Colorado congressional delegation.   In a message urging members to vote for the bill, CMA cited the importance of mining in Colorado and the 48,000 jobs it produces for the state.   With Colorado's diverse mineral base, the state is well positioned to help secure a domestic supply of minerals needed for critical manufacturing, infrastructure, environmental and energy security needs.  

 

Read NMA Press Release

Read the U.S. House of Representative Press Release

 

THE 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION - THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY   

     

     Although the General Assembly adjourned in mid-May, CMA remains active. For a discussion of the session just completed as well as a preview of challenges in 2013, CLICK HERE. 

 

     CMA recently joined other organizations across the United States in opposing EPA's carbon dioxide standards for new coal and gas fueled power plants.  CMA argued that the regulation did not receive an adequate economic analysis, lacks a rational basis, and constitutes a de facto ban on new coal generation. The regulation requires new coal plants to meet the same CO2 level as a combined cycle natural gas plant - 1000 lb/MWh.     This effectively prohibits the building of any new coal plants that do not implement Carbon Capture and Storage. CMA is also participating in state efforts to review the status of the Greater Sage Grouse and develop conservation plans to reduce the likelihood that the species will be listed as threatened or endangered in 2015. The species is already on the State's threatened and endangered list, but a federal listing would significantly curtail energy development and other economic activities in Northwest Colorado. The governors of Wyoming and Colorado are working together to develop a plan to address the potential listing.

 

 

 

CMA JOINS WITH 11 OTHER GROUPS IN CASE TO OVERTURN TAX HIKE 

       

     Twelve organizations - including CMA, the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, the Colorado Bankers Association - and others joined the state of Colorado in asking the Colorado Supreme Court to set aside the district court decision in Lobato v. Colorado, which will mandate massive increases in taxes for Colorado K-12 funding.   According to the state, if the decision is upheld, the State would either have to devote 89% of its general fund to K-12 funding or adopt a massive 50% tax increase.   The lower court had relied heavily on testimony that an additional $2 to $4 billion was needed to overcome the funding shortfall, an amount equal to more than half of the state's $7 billion budget. 

 

     The brief argues that the tax increase is unconstitutional and that budgeting decisions should be left to the legislature. 

 

A copy of the brief may be accessed HERE.

     According to the Energy Information Administration, Colorado coal production increased by 14.5 per cent to 14.5 million tons through the first half of 2012.   Through the end of May, Colorado was the only one of the top ten coal producing states to increase production over last year's levels.  Colorado currently ranks 9th among coal producing states.   But on July 11, the New Elk Coal Mine operated by Cline Mining announced that it was closing for 60 days due to difficult market conditions.   And the Obama Administration's war on coal is taking its toll on markets for coal both inside and outside the United States, as CMA had warned in an earlier news release announcing the coal production numbers for 2011.  

               

 Read Denver Post story on New Elk 

 

    CMA welcomes the following new sustaining members:
 

BURLESON, LLP  

Michael T. Jewell

Managing Associate

1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 1300

Denver, CO 80203

Tel: 303-801-3218

Email: mjewell@burlesonllp.com 

 

Burleson LLP, offers a comprehensive range of services to clients in the oil, gas and mining industry. Since our attorneys have more than 900 years of collective experience - and because energy isn't one of many practice areas, but our only area of concentration - we're the energy law firm that upstream and midstream companies can go to on virtually any matter.

 

CAD-1   

Stan Hennigh

Business Development Manager

12130 Pennsylvania St.

Thornton, CO 80241

Tel: 303-427-2231 Fax: 303-428-9720

Email: stan.hennigh@cad-1.com 

 

CAD-1 is the regional representative for the Autodesk line of Mining and Oil and Gas Engineering and Design Software applications.  We also provide training, implementation and consulting on design and engineering workflows to the mining industry.  We work extensively with many of the major mining firms and service providers in the region and, in fact, nationwide in areas including mine design (roads, equipment, heap leach and tailings, slurries and more) and  GIS and survey workflows.

  

MINING INFORMATION SYSTEMS   

Mike Cleaver

Regional Support & Development Manager

8400 E. Crescent Pkwy Ste 600

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Tel: 720-528-4144 Fax: 720-528-4001

Email: mcleaver@miningis.com.au 

 

Mining Information Systems (MIS) specializes in the development, implementation and management of information and reporting systems for the resources sector. For more than 15 years, MIS has been designing and implementing software systems globally, utilizing proven IT technologies and achieving excellent results in a timely and cost-effective way.

 

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

Stephen D. Alfers

President & CEO

1658 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 6, Suite 210

Lakewood, CO 80401

Tel: 720-974-7248 Fax: 720-974-7249

Email: salfers@pershinggold.com 

 

Pershing Gold Corporation (PGC) is a newly formed gold exploration and development company uniquely positioned to create shareholder value by capitalizing upon the record-high gold price, a near-term opportunity to put the Relief Canyon Mine back into production, opportunities to acquire exciting gold exploration properties with exceptional gold discovery opportunities in an under-explored part of Nevada - Pershing County.

 

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES  ARE AVAILABLE

Increase your company's recognition, become a sponsor!

• Friday, August 3: Annual CMA Golf Tournament at Legacy Ridge.  
• Wednesday, December 12: St. Barbara's Day Celebration at 5 pm at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Denver.