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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: To those who want to comment on the Mining
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| Author | Message Text | ||
| RLancer |
quote gkimball: "Thanks for the post! Submitted the following comment: I like this comment. I believe that there shouldn't be mines and large industry right next to this wilderness but I have been into northern Minnesota this last summer and I realize that mining makes up a large portion of their economy and many people support it. We can't discount mining but we can't let them just put mines up wherever without making sure we know the impacts. This can be such a complicated subject but I ultimately wish we didn't need the mines. My comment wasn't as eloquent as yours but I tried to convey a similar message in my comment to the forest service. Thank you for commenting. |
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| Pinetree |
comment |
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| gkimball |
"I support the withdrawal proposal. It is essential that we understand the true potential impacts of mining of these lands, in particular copper-sulfide mining due to its potential environmental impacts. Copper mines inevitably generate acid and heavy metal pollution in the watersheds where they exist, in the forms of both catastrophic failures of containment systems and slow seepage over time. As noted in the proposal these lands are adjacent to the BWCA. Pollution of the sort created by copper-sulfide mining would be extremely damaging to the waters and aquatic ecosystem of the BWCA. It is estimated that mines of this type in this area will require up to 500 years of water monitoring and treatment. I do not believe this is realistic or feasible, especially in areas with abundant surface and ground water. Mining operations will generate noise, air pollution and changes in land use within the proposal area that will also compromise the value of the BWCA. For this reason I support the proposal to allow a more informed and careful approach to mining on these lands. Thank you." |