Senator Don White’s bill to expand the options for mining of valuable resources on state-owned property passed the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee yesterday.

The “indigenous Mineral resources Incentives Development Act” would allow the Department of General Services to sign contracts or leases for mining on state lands, and would direct the proceeds from such arrangements to the Environmental Stewardship Fund. That fund pays for farmland and open space preservation, abandoned min reclamation, watershed protection, water and sewer infrastructure, and improvements and conservation of parks and recreational facilities.

The committee approval sends the bill to the full Senate for consideration.

AUDIO: Senator Don White explains his bill.