Mining Wilderness

[Ithaca 37]

Tell me some more about how wilderness locks everybody out!

"The U.S. Forest Service is siding with a mining company´s bid to reopen roads and drill test holes in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. "

http://www.idahostatesman.com/News/Idaho/story.asp?ID=39099

 

[BigHornyRam]

Ithaca,

What mineral is this mine supposed to produce?

There is a mine underneath the Beartooth Wilderness here in Montana, that produces palladium and platnum, which is necessary in the production of catylitic convertors. It is our only national source. There have been some recent economic hardship when the cash starved Russians have dumped their reserves causing the world market prices of these elements to plumet. At any rate, the benefits of this technology outway the damage done by tunneling underneath the wilderness.

If the mine contains common minerals such as gold, silver, lead, ect then I would be in favor of keeping the road closed. JMO

Paul

 

[Ithaca 37]

The article doesn't say, but the other mines around there are gold mines. I'm pretty sure this one would be too. Maybe some silver. It's traditionally a gold mining area.

 

[BigHornyRam]

This could be an example of an individual trying to extort the government into buying out his mine claim.

A few years ago a San Fransisco business man bought a property deep within the Absaroka Wilderness and then claimed he had the right to reasonable access to his property. If the government would not buy him out at a ridiculous price, he threatened to build a road to the property. Haven't heard much from this guy in sometime. He is lucky that no one gut shot him and left him to rot.

Paul

 

[BigHornyRam]

This is a good example of where following the letter of the law can come back and bite Ithaca in the ass. The law says that all landowners must be allowed "reasonable" access to their property if it is landlocked by public land.

The big question is how do you define reasonable, and is open to interpitation. Some could define it as vehicle access. Others my think pack train would be reasonable access. Still others may feel shanks mare would be sufficient. Can you see the problem the Forest Service faces trying to follow the law? Any comments?

Paul

 

[Ten Bears]

They don't want to "build" a road. The road is already there. I've been there. The road is there, and blocked by boulders placed on it.