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MINING REFORM AND THE CABINET MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS
The beauty of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness was first recognized in 1935 when it when it was designated a federal primitive area. The protection this wild place received as a primitive area, granted its automatic designation as federally protected wilderness with the passing of the wilderness act of 1964. This distinction of automatic designation was granted to only five rare wild lands in the state of Montana. This exclusive list of pristine jewels includes the Gates of the mountains, the Bitterroot-Selway, the Anaconda-Pintlars, the Bob Marshall, and the Cabinets.
In 1963, Bear Creek Minerals was given permission to pursue the copper/silver that lies beneath the wilderness lakes of the wilderness. Mineral rights to that ore body eventually passed from Bear Creek minerals to Asarco, to Sterling mining, and now to Revett minerals of Canada. Revett minerals intends to pursue that ore body and has no issue in making the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness the first Federally protected wilderness ever to be mined.
The 1872 mining law prioritizes mineral extraction on our federal lands. Until this law is reformed places like the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness will never truly be protected.
Ideally the mining industry should recognize that certain special places should remain in its natural state and receive permanent protections. Unfortunately the industry seems to place minimal value on wild places, wildlife, and clean water. That is why mining reform is essential in 2007. Please contact your elected officials and stress to them that it is time for a 135 year old law to be reformed so as to protect our ever shrinking inventory of wild places.
You can help to protect water quality and the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area from the proposed Rock Creek mine. Simply becoming a member and encouraging your friends to join or sending a letter to your elected officials could make the difference as to whether these outstanding resources are preserved for generations to come. With metals prices continuing to rise, the mining companies certainly have deeper pockets than we do. Your contribution will help us to continue with our public outreach efforts and our legal actions. Click here to sign up!
Please consider writing to your representatives to encourage them to take action to preserve our wilderness areas. Although mining is a necessary industry, there are certain special places where mining is inappropriate. One of these places is within and adjacent to a federally protected wilderness area.
To send a letter to your representatives, go to the following sites:
United States Senators: www.senate.gov
United States House of Representatives: www.house.gov
If you are a resident of Montana, use the following address or visit the following sites to send a letter:
Governor Brian Schweitzer: governor@mt.gov
Senator Max Baucus: baucus.senate.gov
Senator Jon Tester: tester.senate.gov
Representative Denny Rehberg: house.gov/rehberg
If you are a resident of Idaho, visit the following sites:
Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter: gov.idaho.gov
Senator Larry Craig: craig.senate.gov
Senator Michael Crapo: crapo.senate.gov
Representative Bill Sali: house.gov/sali
If you would like to send a letter to the editor, please consider emailing your letter to the following publications:
Bonner County Daily Bee: clobsinger@cdapress.com
Idaho Spokesman Review: daveo@spokesman.com
Kalispell Daily Interlake: edit@dailyinterlake.com
The River Journal: trishgannon@sandpoint.net
The Sanders County Ledger: ledger@blackfoot.net
Spokesman Review: dougf@spokesman.com
The beauty of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness was first recognized in 1935 when it when it was designated a federal primitive area. The protection this wild place received as a primitive area, granted its automatic designation as federally protected wilderness with the passing of the wilderness act of 1964. This distinction of automatic designation was granted to only five rare wild lands in the state of Montana. This exclusive list of pristine jewels includes the Gates of the mountains, the Bitterroot-Selway, the Anaconda-Pintlars, the Bob Marshall, and the Cabinets.
In 1963, Bear Creek Minerals was given permission to pursue the copper/silver that lies beneath the wilderness lakes of the wilderness. Mineral rights to that ore body eventually passed from Bear Creek minerals to Asarco, to Sterling mining, and now to Revett minerals of Canada. Revett minerals intends to pursue that ore body and has no issue in making the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness the first Federally protected wilderness ever to be mined.
The 1872 mining law prioritizes mineral extraction on our federal lands. Until this law is reformed places like the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness will never truly be protected.
Ideally the mining industry should recognize that certain special places should remain in its natural state and receive permanent protections. Unfortunately the industry seems to place minimal value on wild places, wildlife, and clean water. That is why mining reform is essential in 2007. Please contact your elected officials and stress to them that it is time for a 135 year old law to be reformed so as to protect our ever shrinking inventory of wild places.
You can help to protect water quality and the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area from the proposed Rock Creek mine. Simply becoming a member and encouraging your friends to join or sending a letter to your elected officials could make the difference as to whether these outstanding resources are preserved for generations to come. With metals prices continuing to rise, the mining companies certainly have deeper pockets than we do. Your contribution will help us to continue with our public outreach efforts and our legal actions. Click here to sign up!
Please consider writing to your representatives to encourage them to take action to preserve our wilderness areas. Although mining is a necessary industry, there are certain special places where mining is inappropriate. One of these places is within and adjacent to a federally protected wilderness area.
To send a letter to your representatives, go to the following sites:
United States Senators: www.senate.gov
United States House of Representatives: www.house.gov
If you are a resident of Montana, use the following address or visit the following sites to send a letter:
Governor Brian Schweitzer: governor@mt.gov
Senator Max Baucus: baucus.senate.gov
Senator Jon Tester: tester.senate.gov
Representative Denny Rehberg: house.gov/rehberg
If you are a resident of Idaho, visit the following sites:
Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter: gov.idaho.gov
Senator Larry Craig: craig.senate.gov
Senator Michael Crapo: crapo.senate.gov
Representative Bill Sali: house.gov/sali
If you would like to send a letter to the editor, please consider emailing your letter to the following publications:
Bonner County Daily Bee: clobsinger@cdapress.com
Idaho Spokesman Review: daveo@spokesman.com
Kalispell Daily Interlake: edit@dailyinterlake.com
The River Journal: trishgannon@sandpoint.net
The Sanders County Ledger: ledger@blackfoot.net
Spokesman Review: dougf@spokesman.com