There are 2 pressing issues out there right now that could lead to new mining impacts on public lands and rivers. The first issue is a bill in the US House of Representatives that would allow mining companies to buy a large percentage of our National public lands. The second issue is the expiration of a 20 year ban on mining along the Wild and Scenic eligible Lower Salmon River in Idaho.
ISSUE 1: NATIONAL ISSUE: URGENT
Legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives this week would allow mining companies to purchase any of our public lands not explicitly protected for another purpose. This bold attempt to sell off our national treasures is embedded in the House “budget reconciliation” bill. Please learn more about this issue at the following link to the American Rivers’ site, and consider calling your political representatives today!
ISSUE 2: IDAHO: The Lower Salmon offers a 59 mile class III+ float trip through a remote canyon, and is managed by the BLM. The BLM has reccommended the river for Wild and Scenic designation and American Whitewater will be formally endorsing the Lower Salmon’s designation in the ongoing Resource Management Plan process. In 1986 the BLM withdrew the 1/2 mile wide river corridor along the Lower Salmon from all new mining claims, and these withdrawals will expire late next year. Also expiring is a 1988 withdrawal of the lands along the Salmon River from French Creek to Hammer Creek, which is a popular reach for fishing and floating. The BLM states that the withdrawals “removed the public lands and minerals from the operation of mining laws, declaring them unavailable for mineral entry (staking claims, exploration, mining, etc.)” The total acreage withdrawn is about 26,600 acres along 112 miles of river.
Mining is real threat to the Salmon River, and there is a significant body of evidence showing that mining is not appropriate in the area. New mining claims could jeopardize Wild and Scenic designation and therefore leave the river open to future dam construction. New mining could also have significant direct environmental and scenic impacts to the Salmon River.
The BLM is currently processing a proposal to renew these mineral withdrawals and is requesting input from the public. Written Comments will be accepted until November 21, 2005.
Please send the BLM a postcard or letter encouraging them to “renew the mineral withdrawals along the Salmon River from French Creek to the Snake River, in order to protect the river corridor from mineral entry.”
Send your comments to
BLM Cottonwood Office
HC 3, Box 181
Cottonwood, ID 83522
You can call the BLM Cottonwood Office at 208-962-3245 with questions.