Wild and Scenic Illinois River Protected From Mining For Another 20 Years (OR)
Posted: 07/01/2013
By: Thomas O'Keefe
On June 27th, the Interior Department approved a 20-year extension for a mineral withdrawal along
14 miles of Oregon’s National Wild and Scenic Illinois River. The measure will protect one
of the most popular stretches of river in the state from mining. The existing withdrawal expired
on Sunday, June 30th.
Absent reform of the 1872 Mining Law, mineral withdrawals are essential to protect the
public’s interest in their National Forest from mining. Under current policy, the Forest
Service allows mining over all other land uses, unless an area is first withdrawn from operation
of the 1872 Mining Law.
The Illinois River is well known as one of our nation’s most outstanding whitewater
rivers,” said Thomas O’Keefe, Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director for America
Whitewater a conservation-oriented paddling organization and one of the groups supporting the
withdrawal. “Mining is not appropriate on any part of this National Wild and Scenic
River.”
Joseph Vaile, Executive Director of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, a local grassroots
environmental organization, said “Hundreds of our members wrote in support of the
withdrawal. Many shared moving personal experiences of time spent on the Illinois.” Out of
over 4,000 comments, there was one letter submitted in opposition to the Illinois River
withdrawal.
This 14-mile stretch of the Illinois River was first withdrawn in 1968. The wisdom of this
action, which prioritized recreational and fishery values, has become increasingly apparent as
use of this premier whitewater river has increased to beyond full capacity on some stretches. On
a hot summer day, as many as 1,000 people can crowd onto five miles of the most popular part of
the Scenic Illinois River canyon.
Local, state and national conservation organizations applaud the Interior’s actions for the
Illinois River. At the same time they are calling on the Obama Administration to withdraw the
watersheds of Rough and Ready and Baldface Creeks and Oregon’s National Wild and Scenic
North Fork Smith River. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Rep. Peter Defazio have
repeatedly asked the Secretary of Interior and Secretary of Agriculture to withdraw these high
quality salmon streams from mining. No action has been taken to date.
“While we are very pleased by the Interior Department’s action on the Illinois
river,, we believe now is also the time for the Administration to also protect Rough and
Ready Creek and Baldface Creek,” said Chad Woodward, Western Oregon Coordinator for
American Rivers. “These pristine streams are also facing serious threats from mining,
which is why American Rivers named them among America’s Most Endangered Rivers for
2013.”
“We applaud the renewal of the withdrawal for 14 miles of the
National Wild and Scenic Illinois River,” said Barbara Ullian, Coordinator for Friends
of the Kalmiopsis. “But if the Obama Administration is serious in its commitment to
America’s Great Outdoors, they need to act immediately to withdraw the watersheds of Rough
and Ready Creek and Baldface Creek too.”
Mineral withdrawals have been sought for these rivers and the National Wild and Scenic Chetco
River because hardrock mining on public lands is governed by the 1872 Mining Law, a 140-year old
law that prioritizes mining over all other land uses and gives federal land managers little
ability to deny a mine, regardless of competing land uses.
“We’re thrilled about the Illinois withdrawal, but the withdrawal process is a
lengthy piece-meal approach to protecting our nation’s last best places,” said Bonnie
Gestring of Earthworks. “We really need Congress to modernize the 1872 Mining Law to
balance mining with other important land uses.”
A bill to reform the mining law (H.R. 2467), which was introduced this month by Reps.
Grijalva, Ed Markey and Rush Holt last month, would protect national treasures like Wild and
Scenic Rivers from mining.
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To follow are links to additional information and video about the National Wild and Scenic
Illinois River, American Rivers Most Endangered Rivers listing for Rough and Ready Creek and
Baldface Creek and Mining Law Reform:
• Wild and Scenic Illinois River:
• About mineral withdrawals - http://roughandreadycreek.org/1872-mining-law-withdrawals-protecting-public-trust/
• About Rough and Ready Creek, Baldface Creek and the North Fork Smith River:
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http://kalmiopsiswild.org/explore-kalmiopsis-wildlands/the-rivers/wild-and-scenic-north-fork-smith/
• Watch this short video about Rough and Ready Creek to understand why the area should be
withdrawn from the 1872 Mining Law (best watched in 1080p setting) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw1l0aP0u-U
Earthworks - About the 1872 Mining Law and efforts to reform it:
Thomas O'Keefe
3537 NE 87th St.
Seattle, WA 98115
E-mail: okeefe@americanwhitewater.org
Phone: 425-417-9012
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