updated 2015 Mining in the Margaret/Winston/Packwood?

[fireweed]

Got comments on the proposed drilling on the Packwood/Margaret/Winston area near Ryan Lake and Goat Mountain?  They proposed 24-7 drilling through hunting season.  Send them in. 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it is extending the comment period for the Environmental Assessment (EA) related to two hardrock prospecting permit applications for geological exploration within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest northeast of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The public comment period for the EA will now run until August 15, 2012.

Additional information about the EA is available online at: www.blm.gov/or/programs/minerals/prospecting   

Written comments pertaining to the EA will be accepted at the site shown below using either the built-in comment form or as an email.  Comments can also be posted to:  BLM_OR_Prospecting_EA@blm.gov

[pianoman9701]

Anyone know for what they're drilling? This is exploration drilling - test holes. Environmental impact should be minimal at worst. I'd like to get more facts before getting all excited about this. If it's for natural gas or oil, I wouldn't oppose it. I've been saying drill baby drill for 8 years. I won't change now just because it's in my backyard. My 

[fireweed]

Copper mostly (for China??).  With some gold and other minerals possible.  The whole EA and all the documents are on the BLM site, along with history and some past speculation in the area. 

[tbuck6568]

This was the info I could find on infomine.com, Ascot had called my grandmother in Morton to "canvas local support". They say it could be a big boost for the local economy. I've poured over the maps and the area sits right over the Green River Horse Camp. They've drilled 2000 ft. deep I think. I know the Berkley pit in Butte claims to be 1700 feet deep. Hmmmm.....

[Booman2]

I do conservation work for Clark-Skamania Flyfishers and Vancouver Wildlife League and have been working on a rebuttal to the EA- Environmental Assessment- (done for BLM/USFS by a consulting firm hired by Ascot Mines) for the past week. I attended the pre-application meetings, hiked the Project Site and have done about 6 months research about mining. This project will drill about 50 holes as far as 5000 feet deep, looking for gold, copper and other metals which they hope will be in quantities to open pit cyanide leach mine. The Project Area is at the Green River Horse camp and up Goat Mountain to about 4000 feet. This is public  land, purchased for "recreational use" and given to USFS. Ascot is a Canadian company.
The EA says that there are no salmon or steelhead issues because there is a falls downstream. It doesn't mention that these threatened fish as well as resident brook and cutthroat trout need the clear, cold Green River water to live.
The EA dismisses elk and deer, saying that the area is not good habitat. They admit that elk will be displaced by drilling and noise but that "won't be a problem." Likewise, they will not allow any access to the Project Area, about 1.1 square miles north of the 2612 road, but that it won't be a problem for hunters either.
I  could go on, but suggest checking out the 207 page EA on BLM's website and fire off some comments within the next 2 weeks.

[gasman]

So, is this a "NIMBY" thread 

[washelkhunter]

Im all for resource extraction. Provides good family wage jobs and taxes for this State which is broke mostly due to the lack of resource utilization. Drill Baby Drill! 

[Huntbear]

I do conservation work for Clark-Skamania Flyfishers and Vancouver Wildlife League and have been working on a rebuttal to the EA- Environmental Assessment- (done for BLM/USFS by a consulting firm hired by Ascot Mines) for the past week. I attended the pre-application meetings, hiked the Project Site and have done about 6 months research about mining. This project will drill about 50 holes as far as 5000 feet deep, looking for gold, copper and other metals which they hope will be in quantities to open pit cyanide leach mine. The Project Area is at the Green River Horse camp and up Goat Mountain to about 4000 feet. This is public  land, purchased for "recreational use" and given to USFS. Ascot is a Canadian company.
The EA says that there are no salmon or steelhead issues because there is a falls downstream. It doesn't mention that these threatened fish as well as resident brook and cutthroat trout need the clear, cold Green River water to live.
The EA dismisses elk and deer, saying that the area is not good habitat. They admit that elk will be displaced by drilling and noise but that "won't be a problem." Likewise, they will not allow any access to the Project Area, about 1.1 square miles north of the 2612 road, but that it won't be a problem for hunters either.
I  could go on, but suggest checking out the 207 page EA on BLM's website and fire off some comments within the next 2 weeks.

1.1 miles of the 2612 ?? really??  I have some buddies that hunt up on top of where those test holes are going in.. that trail is a major hiking trail that goes up to Deadmans lake...

That whole area is full of elk.. it borders the Margaret unit... 

As for the Green River...  why is there a hatchery on the river down stream if there is not an issue with salmon and steelhead and other native species..

 Another end around???   this sounds like a lot of money greasing some palms to shut up the EPA, and the FS is making a *censored* load of money selling OUR PROPERTY out to mining....  Sounds like the same guys running the FS are the ones running WDFW..  screw the taxpaying sportsmen...

Im all for resource extraction. Provides good family wage jobs and taxes for this State which is broke mostly due to the lack of resource utilization. Drill Baby Drill! 

I will remind you of this, when YOUR HONEY HOLE favorite hunting area is the one being affected by sleaze ball government agencies....  and you lose access due to them shutting the public out of public ground....

[grundy53]

Im all for resource extraction. Provides good family wage jobs and taxes for this State which is broke mostly due to the lack of resource utilization. Drill Baby Drill! 

[shoot-em-dead]

Hell ya- DRILL BABY DRILL

It's about time someone does something to boost the economy. I am all for it. 100%

[washelkhunter]

So they want to drill holes in 1 sq. mile of dirt and thats a big deal? I hope they find the motherlode of all time!

[gasman]

So they want to drill holes in 1 sq. mile of dirt and thats a big deal? I hope they find the motherlode of all time!

For once, I agree with you................     

[Basket Rack]

I am all for "drill baby drill" for oil.  Not so much for an "open pit cyanide leach mine" for copper especially if it is going to be exported to China.  I guess I am being  "NIMBY" as that is an area that I have hunted and recreated in for 30+years.  Kind of a tough one though as we definitely need some good jobs in eastern Lewis County.  Strange how the Feds will potentially allow a giant open pit mine but harvesting timber on federal ground is pretty much completely shut down.

[Booman2]

I'll add that I am fairly sure that there is no tax liability on mine profits. Also, when test drilling started last year, only one US person was employed: the caretaker. Even the equipment at the site had Canadian decals.
As I researched cyanide leach mines I learned that the amount the size of 1 grain of rice can be fatal to humans. I checked out a mine near Whitehall, Montana that could be similar and found a huge barb wire fenced off area with big roads, earth hauling trucks, etc. The "footprint" of a working facility is probably about 3x the size of a mine, and will be incompatible with any other use.
According to a scientist quoted on Nightline last week, the length of time a cyanide pit needs to be monitored is "forever."
This project is on public (USFS) land. It was acquired specifically for "recreational use" when a private company deeded it over.
To clarify the project, it's a 2 stage deal.If the drilling is successful, Ascot can then sell rights to another company to do the mine.

[Huntbear]

A picture of what would be....







Oh.. and as for health risks.... can you look your daughter in the face and tell her,, her chance of Uterine cancer goes WAY up if she lives down stream of the mine?