Something’s got to change

 Writer’s Note: With the mine on Mt. Emmons gaining momentum, I found myself compelled to throw a few thoughts in the mix as the Forest Service closed out its comment period January 31. This is just the beginning, and as editor Mark Reaman says in this week’s editorial on page 2, “I wish it wasn’t necessary to talk at all about this issue, [but] it appears we are at the new start of a long process.”—MH

RE: Mt. Emmons Public Comment Period

Being a newspaper and magazine editor/journalist, I typically stay out of these discussions, but given the critical nature of this issue I can’t stay quiet. But I’m not here to speak for anyone else or as a journalist. I am reaching out to you as a member of this community. This mine will impact me personally—my business, my family, my future, my lifestyle, and my health. There is a whole community here with the same concerns.
Some disclosure—I’m an editor for the Crested Butte News, Backcountry Magazine, founder of local publishing company Stokelab Media LLC, a contributor to ESPN and a number of other publications and websites. I spend a lot of time writing and speaking about the Gunnison Valley, and make my living that way. Frankly, the mine fight is good for my wallet because it gives me something new to write about. But that is all it is good for, other than padding the wallets of U.S. Energy.
In my opinion you are beholden to a law that was crafted to help populate and extract riches from the western United States, not protect the environment and communities who are dependent on it for their livelihood. Consideration for a destination-based tourism economy wasn’t a concern when this law was crafted; really you can’t blame them, who could have foreseen how critical recreation and tourism would become to sustaining a place like Crested Butte? But things change; unfortunately, in this case, the law hasn’t evolved with our culture and economy. Thank you 1872 Hardrock Mining law. Something has got to change.
It disheartens me, scares me that the U.S. Forest Service is still beholden to an ancient law that was crafted without sufficient foresight for situations like these. I fear this mine greatly because I know the odds are all stacked in U.S. Energy’s favor. We get to submit comments for your consideration; lobbyists spend millions of dollars each year to make sure the mining industry gets its way. It’s an uphill battle that will be fought on one side by carpenters and waitresses versus corporate lawyers and corporate dollars. The carpenters and waitresses need the Forest Service’s representation far more than U.S. Energy. They’ve already got plenty on their side. Please keep that in mind as you make your decisions during this process. Imagine you live here, with your family and your community. What would you want the Forest Service to do?
I understand and respect that you as individuals have a job to do, just as I as an individual have the responsibility to protect my family, my community, and myself. What we are talking about here is the potential wholesale destruction of a community and tourism-driven economy. Point blank. I spend my working hours researching, editing and writing about all aspects of the tourism and recreation industry. Tourists don’t choose to visit towns with toxic water, industrial helicopters buzzing around, and a disenchanted, spiritually disemboweled populace. The bottom line is, even within just the state of Colorado, there are countless other places to visit. Unless you want to see where the longest running mine fight in the country was lost, and corporate interests crushed a community. That doesn’t sound like an attractive draw, does it?
As a destination, Crested Butte is unique for its inspired culture, vast and largely primitive wild places, and quiet solitude. That is why people come here. Our economy already suffers due to geographic isolation, and nothing is going to ever change that. But it also maintains its niche in the tourism industry because of all the latter unique-though-challenging qualities. Lose those attributes and not only are we hard to get to, but the public’s perception of this valley as a pristine destination will be shattered. There won’t be any way to hide it; the national media will be and is already all over this issue, believe me. I’ve spoken with several big-name writers from New York and around the country that are keeping their fingers on the pulse of this project and pitching stories to some of the top magazines in the country.
My final plea: Approving a new mine on the most iconic mountain in the town’s viewshed, and in the town’s watershed, is a direct endorsement of the destruction of the town’s economy, and will put the public’s health at risk to an absolutely unacceptable degree. Mitigation is reactive, not proactive. Never mind the impacts to biological capital and ecosystems outside of our anthropocentric perspective. This is a lasting decision that will impact generations of families, flora and fauna. You hold my fate and that of countless others in your hands. Please do everything and anything you can to factor that into the decision-making process. I beg you, as individuals, and as an agency. This may be the most important and impactful set of decisions you ever make.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my comments. I realize it’s a bit out of tradition for a journalist to approach the Forest Service in this scenario, but for me personally it is too important not to comment.