Representative Mark Amodei (R-NV) sponsored H.R. 4402, the so-called National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012, which would effectively eliminate public review of hardrock mining activities on federally-managed public lands. The mining industry already enjoys free access to hardrock minerals on public lands, and federal land managers are required by law to give mining precedence over all other uses of public lands. While land managers are not in a position to deny hardrock mining claims, they are able to require mining companies to explain to the public how they will comply with applicable environmental laws. Eliminating this public review process would threaten water resources across the United States and limit the ability of impacted communities to protect their land, water, and health. On July 12, the House approved H.R. 4402 by a vote of 256-160 (House roll call vote 468). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. The Senate took no action on this legislation.