Montanore Mine poses long-term threat to local water quality

Letter to the Editor:

What about the other side of the Montanore story?   

According to the environmental impact report (SDEIS 2011) the Montanore project will have potentially devastating effects on ground and surface water, permanently changing our world.

Sure, we need jobs, but who is willing to trade our water for a few jobs for a few years for a few people?  

Wake up, people. Read the SDEIS, the environmental impact report. If you live or recreate here and you value the water you drink and irrigate with or the streams we recreate in, you had better reconsider supporting Montanore. If you love The Cabinet Mountains and don’t want to see them irrevocably damaged, you should oppose this mine.

According to the SDEIS: “All mine alternatives would reduce groundwater discharge to area streams...and lower the groundwater table during all five mine phases.” (SDEIS 2011, page 273)

How would the groundwater drawdown affect your well? How will the reduced stream flows affect your favorite creeks?

I quote the environmental impact report: “With mitigation it will take 1,322 years for the groundwater levels to reach equilibrium. Water levels near the mine void would permanently remain greater than 100 feet below pre-mine conditions. (page 248) Baseflow of the East Fork of the Bull River, which flows into the Bull River, would reduce flow by 17 percent.” (page 243)

What would reducing the flow of the East Fork of the Bull River do to the Bull River Valley? What would be the effect on Libby Creek?  

Water from the Cabinet Mountains belongs to us all. We have legal and moral rights to it. Water makes this area what it is.

This project poses a threat to our quality of life. There are far too many unanswered questions. The Montanore Mine Project should not be permitted to proceed.

Sherrie Hughart Garcia,

Troy