GVH board of trustees
The Board of County Commissioners appointed Bruce Alpern and John Raswe to the Gunnison Valley Health Board of Trustees.
Recording office closed on Election Day
Don’t plan on applying for a marriage license or registering your vehicle on Election Day. The Gunnison County Clerk and Recording Office will be closed so staff can help out in the elections office. Now, go vote!
But you can’t see it…
A preliminary Plan of Operations (PoO) has been filed by U.S. Energy with the Forest Service for mining molybdenum on Mt. Emmons. The plan was officially filed October 10 when it was hand-delivered to the district ranger and forest supervisor at the Delta office.
According to Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest external affairs officer Lee Ann Loupe, the PoO is being reviewed by the agency “in accordance with established policy and procedures.” Read More »
Even Snodgrass got a mention
The six candidates for Gunnison County commissioner made their case for election in Crested Butte last week at the Crested Butte News Candidates’ Forum. With two seats open on the Board of County Commissioners—one in District 1 and one in District 2—and an independent candidate running in each district, it’s possible that the winners may not earn a majority of the votes. Read More »
Parties are still “deliberately optimistic…”
It was hoped that by about this time in 2012 there would be the solid foundation of a deal that would forever eliminate the possibility of molybdenum mining on Mt. Emmons. It would take local, state and federal action, with the U.S. Congress being a main player. Given the state of the U.S. Congress, to no one’s surprise that foundation hasn’t yet been poured. But the blueprint for a deal remains on the table with the hope of a potential pact coming together sometime in the near future. Read More »
Looking for thorough plan to address pollutants
The portion of Coal Creek running through Crested Butte will be reclassified by the state as a water source and mandated to meet drinking water standards. That will mean stricter standards will be required for treatment of the water at the U.S. Energy water treatment plant to meet lower levels of chemicals such as arsenic. As part of the decision, the state also wants U.S. Energy to provide a thorough plan to determine where pollutants like cadmium, copper and zinc are originating on Mt. Emmons and flowing into Coal Creek and how to address the problem.
Nearing 30 years of uncertainty
A segment of Coal Creek that runs through the town of Crested Butte will be the focus of the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission in September.
U.S. Energy Corp has asked the commission to extend temporary modifications to water quality standards on the section of the creek that runs from just below the town’s water supply intake to the creek’s confluence with the Slate River. Read More »
If a Times is going to scoop the News I suppose I’d rather it be like last Monday when the New York Times posted a press release on their website from U.S. Energy Corp. saying a deal was in the works to prohibit all mining forever on Mt. Emmons. Their daily paper beat our weekly rag to the punch. Ouch. Now about the deal…
As the valley evolved over the decades from a mining town to a resort community, the idea 35 years ago of a new molybdenum mine on Red Lady was ugly. It has been a long fight and a fight worth having. I’m not opposed to all mining. I have a bike and a car and I use molybdenum. But in a loudly NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) attitude, a destination resort has far different needs than a mining town. They aren’t compatible no matter how much lipstick you put on that pig. A destination attraction needs to have destination amenities worth traveling for. In the mountains that means clean water, fresh air, pristine views and crystal night skies. A mine doesn’t help those qualities. And there is plenty of molybdenum being mined in this world already. So that fight to stop a mine three miles west of town (and which isn’t over yet, people) is a righteous one.
Now while the fight may not be over, there has been a giant leap toward a workable peace agreement. The miners, the enviros, the politicians have all finally seemed to find common ground. As the president of the mining company said, “We have broken bread and it’s been an enjoyable personal experience.” One quality lesson out of this is that good personal connections count and 99 times out of 100 finding a sliver of common ground works better than complete demonization of people with different views and goals.
At the same time, the mine company admitted to investors this week that the mine could be having a negative impact on the company and I get the feeling they are ready to look elsewhere for extractive dollars. It probably makes a lot of sense to take $50 million or $100 million in the near term as opposed to continually rolling the dice to try and maybe earn hundreds of millions of dollars years and years down the road.
So the local leaders and state and national politicians are agreeing that that makes sense and we should join together to accommodate the concept. Sounds right. They acknowledge U.S. Energy deserves some compensation. Fair enough. Now it is a matter of detail. And there will be a lot of details. But the significant bottom line is that the locals will end up somehow taking responsibility (financial and otherwise) for a critical water treatment plant that keeps water clear and pristine in the upper valley. It won’t be cheap and somehow you might end up contributing. But it will be worth it. It appears we are now depending on Congress. That’s not all that comforting but Senators Udall and Bennet are good people who have been here and understand this issue. Take a minute and write them a note of encouragement.
This is a valley that in this day and age depends on people coming here to experience relatively untouched mountains. Clean air. Clean water. Clear skies and silent nights are the draw, not industrial mining operations. So this is a great step forward for the current realities of Crested Butte and the valley. This is a week to celebrate common ground that can end a fight many thought would never end. The details will be many and I anticipate a glitch or two but this is a huge step and one to celebrate.
Cheers.
It will be up to Congress
While nothing is set in stone, negotiations are under way to keep Mt. Emmons molybdenum-mine-free forever. Under a general concept agreed to by the mining company, local environmental organizations and the town of Crested Butte, the decades-old controversy over extracting moly from Red Lady could likely end with U.S. Energy Corp. walking away with rights to other federal lands worth tens of millions of dollars. Read More »
Mt. Emmons to be free of mining forever?
It was announced Monday that negotiations have been taking place for the last year that might lead U.S. Energy Corp to give up its right to mine molybdenum on Mt. Emmons. The mining company announced on May 14 that it is open to some sort of “land exchange or similar process with the United States for the mining claims associated with the Mt. Emmons Project.”
Between 300 and 400 riders
expected
The Alpine Odyssey, Crested Butte’s Leadville 100 Qualifier, has an official route. For a race announced in early spring, this might seem a little late. But organizers were thrown for a loop when U.S. Energy opted not to allow the original course pass over mine property on Kebler Pass, and plans to reroute on Snodgrass were hindered by the inability to secure private landowner approval. Read More »
The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
