BLM chief says mining likely in Nevada for long time

"Some areas, even some with moderate or high mineral potential, will not be available to mining due to other competing interests," Bob Abbey told a gathering of the Northeastern Nevada Section of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.

He listed some of those competing interests as urban expansion, the need to protect habitat for threatened and endangered species and to protect significant cultural and historic resources.

"I am not giving people mixed messages. I really believe there is a place for all of us," Abbey said during his remarks on Friday at the Elko Convention Center.

Speaking on the day after President Clinton signed the Kosovo spending bill that includes a provision delaying proposed revisions to federal mining regulations, Abbey also said he sees the need for certain changes in for bonding and notice-level operations.

The provision on regulations governing hard-rock mining on federal lands attached to the Kosovo bill by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., prohibits the U.S. Department of Interior from taking action on revisions until 120 days after a National Academy of Sciences study.

Abbey said BLM will seriously consider all the boxes of comments the state office has received on the draft revisions.

In addition, he told the Elko Daily Free Press that the mining industry, environmental activists and governmental agencies have "got to get beyond this yelling and shouting" and work together.

"We are fortunate in Nevada to be blessed with a geologic base that is conducive to mineral extraction," he said, adding that despite mining layoffs and low gold prices, 60,000 jobs in Nevada are related in some way to mining.

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