Mount St. Helens Mining Threat: The Backstory
- This map shows the plans of the previous claim owners which were turned back by over 33,000 public comments opposing the proposed mine.
In March, 2010 Ascot Resources, Inc., a Canadian corporation, signed an option agreement to purchase interests in the Mount Margaret deposit, which lies in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest on the southern slope of Goat Mountain, just north of Mount Margaret and east of (and adjacent to) the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Currently, Ascot is working with the Forest Service to add approximately 14 more holes to the 105 holes previously drilled by the Duvall Corp. in the 1980’s. Due to the nature of this particular mineral acquisition, the Forest Service has determined that traditional mining law and the National Environmental PolicyAct (NEPA) process (which allows the public to comment about various stages of the project) do not apply. The Forest Service could have chosen to undergo a NEPA process because of the controversial nature of the project, but the Forest Service decide to forego that process and proceed without a public comment period. The exploratory drilling phase is the first step in a process that could result in a 3,000 acre copper mine adjacent to Mount St. Helens. Update: the Task Force took legal action to challenge the USFS approval of drilling without a NEPA process. We were successful and drilling has been stopped.
- The exploratory drilling conducted in Autumn 2010 involved reopening previously decommissioned roads.
This is not the first time this area has been threatened by a mine. In March, 2005 Idaho General Mines, Inc. (now known as General Moly, Inc.) submitted a Hardrock Mineral Lease Application for minerals located within the same deposit. IGMI acquired a 50% interest in the deposit in 2004, and was seeking a lease to begin mining in the area based on that interest. Under Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulations, the BLM may issue such a lease when the application “is for lands where the United States owns less than 100 percent of the mineral interest and where [BLM] has determined it is in the public interest to grant the permit or lease.” In April of 2008, after 3 years and over 33,000 public comments, a majority of which were in opposition to this mine, the BLM released a "no decision" on this application, effectively ending their bid to begin mining. Unfortunately, the BLM’s decision for this lease application did not stop mining interests from continuing to seek opportunities in the future.
- This photo taken from the exploratory drilling site shows the beautiful and popular Green River Valley.
The exploratory drilling being pursued by Ascot will open the door to mine development and the Forest Service should consider the likely impacts even at this early stage. A large copper mine at the edge of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and in a seismically active region poses a serious risk of releasing toxins that could devastate threatened fish runs and contaminate community drinking water supplies downstream. A mine will also likely impact ancient forests, the Tumwater Inventory Roadless Area, and popular recreation sites in the area. The Green River valley and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is a unique and special place and it is not an appropriate location for a 3,000 acre copper mine.
- The mine would eliminate recreation opportunities in an area that is frequently enjoyed by backcountry enthusiasts.
If exploration is completed, Ascot will still be required to apply for a permit for actual mine development, triggering an environmental review. However, by investing time, money, and resources into this mining proposal now, the federal government is creating momentum that will be difficult to stop when it comes time to decide whether or not to permit actual mine development.
The federal government would be abusing the public’s trust by leasing any of this land to the mining company. The Trust for Public Lands (TPL) originally obtained this land from the Duval mining company in the early 1980s for the purpose of protecting the Green River valley from mining. The Forest Service then purchased the land from TPL in 1986 using Land and Water Conservation Funds, which are allocated by Congress for acquiring land for the purpose of conservation and recreation. To act ethically and responsibly, the federal government should refuse to issue the requested permit to the mining interest.
Click here to read the BLM decision from 2008 regarding the original mine proposal.
