Comment period open on mine proposal

A public meeting will be held in January

Given the sensitivity of anything having to do with a proposed Mt. Emmons molybdenum mine, the U.S. Forest Service is trying to cover every base with any proposal having to do with the project. As a result, the agency is asking for significant public input concerning a Plan of Operations (PoO) for Mt. Emmons Geotechnical Baseline Studies from U.S. Energy Corp. Written comments will be taken until January 31 of 2011 and a public community forum is tentatively slated to take place sometime in the middle of January in Crested Butte. The mine company would like to start the studies this coming summer.

Forest Service External Affairs officer out of Delta for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Lee Ann Loupe, said not every such request merits a forum of this nature. “The methods and degree of public scoping and involvement is a line officer decision,” she explained. “For this project and because the options are limited by the 1872 Mining Act, we felt it was important to engage folks early on and to provide an opportunity to help people understand what is proposed, the sideboards that exist by law and to help them with information on the proposal to be able to formulate substantive comments.”
Loupe, said no specific date has been set for the forum but it “likely won’t be held until mid-January when folks are done with the holidays and we have time to focus on their questions.”
The proposal seeks to collect baseline data information. Specifically, U.S. Energy wants to: create a series of test pits and boreholes; convert boreholes that intercept groundwater into monitoring wells; install stream-flow monitoring stations and continued monitoring; conduct hand-held seismic testing; and perform surface inventory and mapping of geological interests and hazards. These activities would likely occur between July and November but could extend into a second season. U.S. Energy has not proposed to conduct mining activities at this time.
Among the things being proposed, helicopters would be used for mapping parts of the area around Mt. Emmons, Ohio Creek and near the Oh-Be-Joyful Creek confluence with the Slate River. Helicopters might also be used to airlift in heavy equipment to sites not accessible by road. 26 test pits are being proposed to look at soil deposits. Those pits would average 900 square feet. Twenty-five drill holes are being proposed, including a dozen of them within roadless areas.
Gunnison District Ranger John Murphy stated in a press release, “We are well-aware of the public concerns that exist regarding Mt. Emmons and U.S. Energy’s efforts. That’s one reason why it’s important for interested citizens to become involved in the process and to provide their issues, concerns and information early on.” Murphy went on to state, “We want to provide reasoned alternatives and environmental protections for the resources and to address public concerns to the degree that we can, consistent with the law in this environmental analysis.”
U.S. Energy is the owner of patented claims and unpatented mining and mill site claims for a molybdenum deposit and lands located on/near Mt. Emmons, just west of Crested Butte. The company has requested authorization to gather information as part of a feasibility study.
According to the Forest Service press release, the agency decision authority is limited to the imposition of reasonable terms and conditions to protect surface resources. United States mining laws (30 U.S.C. 21-54) confer a statutory right on holders of unpatented mining claims to enter upon the public lands to perform operations consisting of geotechnical work and water sampling.
High Country Citizens’ Alliance Executive Director Dan Morse said the environmental organization will participate in the scoping and encourages the public to do so as well. But he doesn’t see that the Forest Service is obligated to consider the proposed baseline studies. “We will participate in the scoping process but we don’t intend to do so from the standpoint of making the baseline studies better or more convenient for the Forest Service or U.S. Energy,” he said. “We don’t agree that these studies are necessary because we don’t agree that a mine must be considered. We’ll certainly ask for a complete analysis of the impacts of what they are proposing.
“The public ought to attend the scoping meeting that Forest Service will hold in January to learn more about what’s being proposed,” Morse continued. “And then the public definitely should let the Forest Service know their concerns about the impacts from these studies.”
And Morse said these impacts are not minor. “Think about it. They will be digging a van-sized pit at Oh Be Joyful using backhoes and helicopters,” Morse said. “You might see some upset people who are taking a hike on the Lower Loop. That’s an important picture for people to think about when expressing their concerns.”
As far as a timeline for the scoping and the studies, Loupe said nothing is yet set in stone. “This will depend on what comes up in scoping and the issues and concerns that arise from the analysis,” she said. “The proponent would like to begin work this summer. However, it depends on the analysis and NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) processes and how this progresses.”
“We are pleased to be moving forward,” commented Community Relations Director for the Mt. Emmons Moly Company, Perry Anderson.
Send or deliver comments to: Mt. Emmons Geotechnical Baseline Study, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, 2250 Highway 50, Delta, Colorado 81416-2485. Or email comments to “[email protected]”.