National Geographic piece
Videos of teenagers flipping off a roof or crazy animal tricks are often the most viewed films on YouTube.com, but this week a more serious topic is capturing viewers’ interest. The six-minute film, “U.S. Mining Law Contested” featuring the Town of Crested Butte is moving up the ranks of fan favorites and gaining steam as bloggers debate the 1872 Mining Law—a law the U.S. Senate is also considering right now. Read More »
New tunnel proposed
Drilling activity on Mount Emmons could significantly increase this spring due in part to a decision made by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources to allow greater exploration for molybdenum by Lucky Jack developers. Read More »
“It’s just up in air at this point”
Developers of the proposed Lucky Jack mine say they plan to delay submission of their plan of operation to the U.S. Forest Service once again as they continue to gather information for the extensive report, according to community liaison Perry Anderson. Read More »
Senator Barack Obama
Obama for America
PO Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680
To Senator Obama:
Congratulations on your outstanding presidential campaign, which seems to be picking up speed as we head into Super Tuesday on Tuesday, February 5. As you know, Colorado Democrats will be participating in caucuses on that day and in that spirit, I’d like to draw attention to a topic particularly important to us in Gunnison County—the regulation of the mining industry.
As you may or may not be aware, in 2004, 155 acres on top of Mt. Emmons, located less than a mile from the Town of Crested Butte, Colorado, was transferred from the Bureau of Land Management to the Phelps Dodge Corporation for approximately $875, or $5 per acre. The price was based on costs established more than 130 years ago, under the General Mining Law of 1872. Since then, the property has been transferred to Wyoming-based U.S. Energy Corp., which is pursuing plans to open a molybdenum mine in our town’s watershed.
The plan is so contrary to our resort community’s values that a broad coalition of citizens have risen up to protest not only U.S. Energy’s specific mining plans but the very law that allowed this disastrous string of events to begin—the 1872 Mining Law.
Officials from Crested Butte testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Resources last week during a committee oversight hearing on mining law reform. During his testimony, Crested Butte mayor Alan Bernholtz discussed how the reform would empower our town and local communities across the nation in their efforts to protect their resources, like local watersheds. Specifically, the Town wants Congress to give federal agencies the ability to deny and approve mining applications case-by-case based on suitability and public input.
On November 8, 2007, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on a press call in which you stated that you did not support H.R. 2262, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on November 1, 2007.
The bill, which was co-sponsored by Representative John Salazar (D-Colo.), would allow local authorities to protect their communities from the historically devastating impacts of mining. Specifically, the bill would require mining companies to pay royalties to the government and set new environmental requirements for the hardrock mining industry.
According to the Review-Journal’s article, you would work to find change that would "provide greater business security for the mining industry and the communities that depend on it." Specifically, the newspaper said you stated that legislation should include "fair" compensation for the use of federal lands and ensure that abandoned mine sites get cleaned up.
According to your campaign website, you oppose H.R. 2262’s provisions to impose royalties of 4 percent of gross revenue on existing hard-rock mining operations, and royalties of 8 percent of gross revenue on new mining operations.
While the percentages will be up for discussion, it’s imperative that any Senate bill revise rules for the patenting or sale of public lands, create a royalty system from any minerals taken from public lands and strengthen environmental protections for disturbed lands. I urge you to carefully reconsider your stance.
As a member of Congress, you may have the opportunity to vote on a bill that will revise the antiquated mining law and protect communities like Crested Butte. While I understand that compromise will be the name of the game, I ask for your leadership to ensure that the Mining Law of 1872 is updated to reflect our 2008 values.
In your campaign, you’ve championed change. I can assure you that change is needed as badly within our outdated mining laws as elsewhere in our government.
I will be looking for your vote on this issue, as I suspect you may be looking for mine this November.
Thank you for your time,
Aleesha Towns
Another year is behind us and we’ve spent the last few days reminiscing about what we’ve accomplished in 2007. Now it’s time to look forward to what 2008 will likely bring the Gunnison Valley.
The area’s agenda is rather full with several big issues coming to light in 2008 in the towns of Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte and Gunnison County.
Specifically, townspeople will continue their dogged defiance of mining plans on Mt. Emmons, also known as Red Lady. U.S. Energy and Kobex Resources have stated they intend to submit their plan of operations to the U.S. Forest Service for the proposed molybdenum mine on Mt. Emmons in the first quarter of 2008. The plan will allow local entities fighting the proposal to get an official look at what these mining companies want to do and how they are proposing to accomplish it.
The year should also bring the maturation of the Red Lady Coalition, which logged its first victory in 2007 but has yet to fully define itself in the public eye. Hopefully, the organization, along with the veteran High Country Citizens’ Alliance, will be able to capitalize on intense civic vigor against the mine proposal that emerged in 2007.
In addition, the town of Crested Butte is expecting to see its first major annexation proposal in 2008 since the Verzuh Annexation almost ten years ago. A pre-annexation application was submitted on behalf of Fairways GH Paradise, LLC and Spann Ranches calling for a 70-acre annexation for mostly residential development located just north of town on Highway 135.
The town has also committed to start re-working some troublesome guidelines administered by the Board of Zoning and Architectural Review, although the new rules won’t likely be finished until 2009.
In Mt. Crested Butte, Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) has a bevy of plans for the 2008 year, as outlined by reporter Evan Dawson’s story on page 12 of this edition. Most notably, the resort is awaiting a Forest Service decision on its Main Mountain plan in 2008. The resort may also break ground on two new buildings, the Cimarron building in the base area and the Red Lady Lodge at the top of the Red Lady Express chairlift.
This year may also bring the debate over whether CBMR should be allowed to expand onto publicly owned Snodgrass Mountain further into the forefront. CBMR is anticipating a United States Geological Survey decision on a geology study it submitted in 2007, contradicting some of the government’s findings about the stability of Snodgrass Mountain. If the USGS and CBMR agree, the resort will submit expansion plans to the U.S. Forest Service and enter the National Environmental Policy Act process.
At the county level, Gunnison County commissioners have a full slate as well. The county has already launched a review of its regulations for major developments—rules that will govern any ski area expansion onto Snodgrass Mountain and U.S. Energy/ Kobex’s mining plans. With several work sessions planned, those revamped rules may be completed in 2008.
In addition, the county is looking at taking another step forward in providing affordable housing for its residents this year. Commissioners are looking at adopting inclusionary housing requirements, which will obligate developers to set aside portions of their projects for affordable housing.
2008 will bring its fair share of campaigning as well. In addition to the presidential and state races, locally three seats on the Mt. Crested Butte Town Council held by Chris Morgan, Danny D’Aquila and Tom Steuer are up for election in April 2008 and county commissioners Hap Channell and Paula Swenson’s seats are up for election in November.
It’s clear that our officials have their work cut out for them this year. But this workload must be shared across the community—therefore, I hope 2008 will be the year of even more citizen involvement in these important decisions.
Stay tuned and stay involved.
—Aleesha Towns
Red Lady Coalition says withdrawal next step
“This is not an email list you can join—it’s an organization that gets things done,” Red Lady Coalition member Denis Hall recently told a Crested Butte resident who asked to be added to the “alert” email list. Hall explained there was no email list and if he wanted to join, he’d be required to work. Read More »
Coalition presents petition to Forest Service
Although the Red Lady Coalition did not receive a definitive answer from the U.S. Forest Service regarding its petition, the coalition is optimistic the meeting will encourage a more in-depth analysis of any mining proposal submitted to the agency regarding a potential large-scale molybdenum mine on Mt. Emmons. Read More »
Mining company backtracks after lawsuit threat
The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
