As mining claims in Colorado and the West skyrocket in a kind of modern-day gold rush, Congress wants to rewrite an arcane law governing mineral exploration. The measure hasn't been overhauled since President Ulysses S. Grant signed it into law in 1872. "Efforts to comprehensively reform the Mining Law (of 1872) have been ongoing literally for decades but have repeatedly failed," said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a New Mexico Democrat who leads the Senate Energy Committee. That panel is crafting legislation to update the law. Following the lead set by House members last year, Bingaman and others in the Senate believe they now have a good opportunity to rewrite the mining rules. Even the mining industry is willing to agree to some changes, said Carol Raulston, spokeswoman for the National Mining Association. The industry wants to know what the rules will be so it can make plans and wants to act now in case a less- friendly administration wins the White House, several people involved in negotiations said. The Senate is looking for the first time at charging royalties for minerals pulled from federal lands. Mining companies currently don't pay anything for using property owned by taxpayers. That money could be used to clean up abandoned mines, including the 23,000 in Colorado.

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