Will the GOP roll back Obama-era mining bans?

Attacks on public lands continue Staff Report After more than a century of reckless mining that created a toxic legacy of pollution, the Obama administration finally started trying to prevent even more destruction by placing a few areas, including watersheds around the Grand Canyon, off-limits. Even those modest restrictions are apparently too much for the

Environment: Canadian mine, energy developments stir trans-border unease in Alaska

Alaska communities seek international review of Canadian projects that will affect their rivers Staff Report FRISCO — Mining and energy development in western Canada is making some Alaskans uneasy, as they eye potential impacts to pristine salmon streams in the region. Citing a bilateral environmental treaty, activists this week will meet with British Columbia’s Minister

Environment: Judge upholds EPA’s review of proposed Pebble Mine, near Bristol Bay, Alaska

Salmon fisheries at risk with open-pit mine proposal By Bob Berwyn FRISCO — A federal judge Friday ruled that the EPA can proceed with an environmental review of a proposed copper mine in Alaska’ pristine Bristol Bay. U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland rejected arguments that the EPA exceeded its authority by starting the

Federal judge requires more up-front study for Idaho mining

Court determines that Forest Service failed to meet environmental review standards in approving exploration project on public lands By Bob Berwyn SUMMIT COUNTY — A late August federal court ruling from a U.S. District Court in Idaho could have a ripple effect on proposed mining activities around the West. The decision by U.S. District Court

Environment: Mining law overhaul is long overdue

Record gold prices spurring new activity; watchdog groups say now is the time to update federal mining law By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY — If federal lawmakers are serious about shrinking the budget deficit, they should be looking seriously at a proposal by U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) that would make sure the oil, gas and

Colorado: Gold mine proposed near Fairplay

Wavering economy drives gold price upward; more mining proposals possible By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY — With the price of gold surging to near $1,800 per ounce, it’s no wonder that there’s talk of new gold mines opening in Colorado. One of the latest proposals is for a small combination placer gold, sand and gravel

Forest Service to review mining operation near Aspen

Alabaster quarry seeking to expand operations By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY — The U.S. Forest Service says it will carefully evaluate a plan for alabaster mining on the White Banks mining claims  near Avalanche Creek in the Crystal River Valley. Originally staked by Mystic Eagle Quarry, LLC, the White Banks claims have been leased to

Summit Rotarians visit the Climax Mine

Tour helps shed light on differences between historic and modern mining practices By Summit Voice The Summit County Rotary Club recently followed up on last month’s visit to the abandoned Pennsylvania Mine with a tour of the open-pit Climax molybdenum mine near Leadville. Summit Rotary Club president Don Sather organized the tour along with fellow

Summit Rotary Club visits the Pennsylvania Mine

Keystone Science School, Blue River Watershed Group lead tour to polluted site along Peru Creek By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY — Local Rotary Club members got a first-hand look at the heavily polluted Pennsylvania Mine site high in the Snake River Basin last week, as the Blue River Watershed Group, helped by the Keystone Science

EPA OKs mine cleanup in San Luis Valley

‘Good Samaritan’ provision eases liability for post-remediation pollution By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY — For the first time, environmental groups will be able to take advantage of an EPA Good Samaritan provision created in 2007 that’s designed to speed up cleanups of watersheds and fisheries threatened by pollution from abandoned mines. The cleanup agreement is