With all the environmental controls on mining operations in the United States and the lack of mining controls and other onerous regulations in other countries we have rendered our mining uncompetitive in World Markets. There is no way for a US based mining operation to receive a comparative ROI in within our borders. There are many other factors to consider also, but this is the big one. For instance if your other countries do not have the same rules for environmental controls they can often sell those raw materials to other countries who in turn can sell their finished products, such a specialty alloys, steel, etc. at lower prices than your companies can produce them in the states. Which would appear to be dumping; selling their products for less it costs them to produce them. Many countries prop up such industries with huge tax incentives or subsidizing those industries and/or companies.

There are many reasons for this, sometimes it is merely to insure that those companies are in business to sell products to the Countries government agencies for infrastructure projects. Other times it is to appease labor and provide jobs. Sometimes it is in retaliation for a perceived or actual trade war from another trading partner country, which is propping up one of it’s other industries. The dynamics of World Trade on; industry, peace, quality of life of populations, money flow, raw materials and natural resources; are quite extensive, as you might have guessed; Un-level playing fields and unbalanced environmental laws are some of the most detrimental to the industry and the future populations living near and around mining areas.

If you look at the above ground Coal mines in; Gillette, WY; you can see a perfect example of how mining works when everything is just right. Hundreds and hundreds of complete train loads leaving weekly for coal fired energy plants across the country. Every thing environmentally controlled and all mining is above ground. The economies of scale in such mines are incredible, fun to watch and very serious, every single second is accounted for, it is now a pure science in efficiency. If you ever get the chance we recommend you take the Gillette, WY tour;

http://www.horizon-tours.com/coalmine.htm

you will be blown away to see where we have come in the past few centuries. Unfortunately there are fewer and fewer mines with raw materials running anymore in the United States, imported raw materials come with additional costs in transportation, meaning these costs are passed onto the final products which use these materials to produce. Adding additional environmental restrictions that other countries do not have to comply with is killing millions with poisonous water and air flows. Things we would not even think about in the United States. Think about it.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs