US Agency Endorses Plan to Block New Mining Near Yellowstone

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

September 21, 2018 9:35 PM
Associated Press

BILLINGS, MONTANA —
U.S. officials recommended approval on Friday of a plan to block new mining claims for 20 years on the forested public lands that make up Yellowstone National Park’s mountainous northern boundary.

Regional Forester Leanne Marten submitted a letter to the Bureau of Land Management endorsing the plan to withdraw 30,000 acres (12,140 hectares) in Montana’s Paradise Valley and the Gardiner Basin from new claims for gold, silver, platinum and other minerals, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Marna Daley said.

A final decision is up to the office of U.S. Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke, who favors the withdrawal. Zinke said in a statement that it could be finalized in coming weeks.

The Trump administration’s support is notable given the president’s outspoken advocacy for the mining industry and his criticism of government regulations said to stifle economic development. The proposal has received bipartisan backing in Montana, with Democrats and Republicans alike eager to cast themselves as protectors of the natural beauty of the Yellowstone region.


Read more: https://www.voanews.com/a/us-agency-endorses-plan-to-block-new-mining-near-yellowstone/4582618.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. U.S. backs protecting Yellowstone's northern gateway from mining

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 / 7:40 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

Laura Zuckerman
3 MIN READ

(Reuters) - New mining claims should be banned for 20 years on more than 30,000 acres north of Yellowstone National Park to preserve scenery, wildlife habitat, waterways and outdoor recreation that fuels tourism in nearby Montana towns, the U.S. Forest Service said Friday.

The recommendation to withdraw 30,370 acres of the Custer Gallatin National Forest from mineral development comes after two large gold-mining operations were proposed near Yellowstone, sparking opposition from conservationists and local businesses in an area known as Paradise Valley.

The controversial proposals were put on hold for at least two years in 2016 under the Obama administration, with officials saying more time was needed to conduct an environmental review. That study, released in May, supported continued restrictions on mining.

The original two-year moratorium is due to end Nov. 21. The Forest Service recommendation to protect the acreage for an additional two decades must be formally approved by U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to go into effect. The proposed 20-year ban would not affect existing claims.

More:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-yellowstone-mining/u-s-backs-protecting-yellowstones-northern-gateway-from-mining-idUSKCN1M200J?rpc=401&

[Xolodno]

4. Tourism...

...probably brings in more money, both short and long term. Mining could ruin that and locals probably won't be happy with that. Plus Montana is a heavy government cattle grazing subsidized area...mining could ruin the economics on that as well. Cattle ranchers, tourist providers, etc. are state voters....mining companies who import labor....not so much.

[cstanleytech]

2. Deep mining or drilling near a major volcano with a large magma chamber have never

made much sense to me at all especially not if it involves the use of any explosives.

[ffr]

3. One of the best newly discovered ways to mine is through the use of a thermonuclear detonation

Conservative backed mining companies have been working with their conservative military counterparts to use such means specifically at sites around Mammoth, CA, and Yellowstone, WY. A deep underground explosion is able to start a chain reaction, not only loosening, but also removing trillions of tons of material quickly. Once the surface cap is removed, the pressure from the magma below the caldera releases another 100,000 - 1,000,000,000 times the cap's amount of material, saving thousands of years of manual human labor. All in the relative blink of an eye.





p.s. I wouldn't put it past any conservative to seriously consider such an idea, all in the aim of some short-term monetary wealth.