House Votes for Public Land Mining Sales

Saturday November 19, 2005 12:01 am

By JOHN HEILPRIN

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House agreed to reinstate sales of mining lands at cheap prices as part of its budget cut plan approved Friday, a move that could transfer into private hands up to 20 million acres of public lands on Western ranges, national forests and even national parks.

The measure would end a congressional ban that since 1994 has prevented mineral companies and individuals from submitting new applications for ``patenting,'' or buying, public land, including some in national forests and parks.

No such provision is contained in the Senate version of