The Latest from ICL
Exploration Mining Proceeds, Open Pit Plan Still Problematic
As exploration mining proceeds on the East Fork South Fork of the Salmon River, plans for an open-pit mine to be dug in the riverbed remain troubling.
When It's Time to Stop Digging
Idaho faces the cleanup of 5,000 abandoned mines. Article by Jessica Murri of the Boise Weekly.
Proposal to Open South Fork Clearwater to Dredge Mining
The Forest Service and BLM recently proposed to open the South Fork Clearwater River to recreational dredge mining, even as illegal miners continue to openly violate the Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts and threaten fish habitat and water quality.
Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines in Idaho Could Cost $1 Billion
If efforts to seize public lands are successful, costs for abandoned mine cleanup could total more than $1 billion, according to a new report. State taxpayers would be solely responsible for these costs. Instead, a state takeover of public lands should be abandoned, and mining laws should be reformed to ensure adequate funding for mine reclamation.
Sage-grouse Would Benefit from Mining Withdrawals
The greater sage-grouse needs large expanses of undeveloped sage-brush habitat. The Bureau of Land Management has proposed protecting 3.8 million acres of sagebrush areas in Idaho from the threat of mining. Under this proposal, sage-grouse and many other species would benefit.
Road Building, Drilling Could Pollute Boise River Headwaters
Road building and drilling for mining could pollute the Boise River's headwaters. The project is not as protective of water quality as federal law requires.
Could an Animas River-like Disaster Happen in Idaho?
Images of the mine spill on Animas River in Colorado stunned people across the West. A vibrant, clear blue river was transformed to a toxic orange ribbon. Could something like this happen in Idaho? Yes, the Boise River is vulnerable to such a spill. Read how.
Conservation Groups File Lawsuit to Protect Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
Conservationists filed a lawsuit on July 7 against a mining company's plan to deploy bulldozers, dump trucks and drilling rigs miles inside the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, calling the proposed plan needlessly destructive to this nationally treasured landscape. The lawsuit was filed by the Idaho Conservation League, Earthworks, The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Clearwater and Wilderness Watch.
Case to Keep Coal and Oil Buried Gets Stronger
A recent study published in the journal Nature delivers the inconvenient fact that most coal needs to stay in the ground if we're to prevent catastrophic climate change.