West side of Absaroka Range in Paradise Valley, near Emigrant, Montana. Credit: Mike.

The US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has cleared a bill that seeks to permanently ban mining on federal public land north of Yellowstone National Park.

Introduced by US Senator Jon Tester, the proposed bill, titled ‘Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act’ is aimed at protection of Montana’s Paradise Valley from hardrock gold mining.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

If the bill becomes a law, mining rights for 30,000 acres of land north of Yellowstone National Park would be withdrawn.

The Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act prevents miners from exploiting acreage on the Custer Gallatin National Forest near the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness and curbs any potential expansion of proposed mines onto unclaimed public land.

Tester said: “Some places are more precious than gold. My bill will ensure outdoor recreation businesses can continue to thrive in the region, and will protect one of our nation’s greatest treasures for generations to come.”

The bill enjoys support from businesses and other groups in the Yellowstone region.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

An organisation named the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition has been working on protecting the local economy from two proposed gold mines near the Yellowstone National Park.

“Some places are more precious than gold.”

The group opines that gold mining in the region could harm lands and water due to residuals such as arsenic and lead.

Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition founding member Colin Davis was quoted by media sources as saying: “Our work won’t be over until we pass this bill into law and that’s what we aim to do when Congress reconvenes in November.”

This comes days after the US Supreme Court declined to hear a petition filed by the mining industry to review the ban imposed by the previous government on new uranium mining near the Grand Canyon.