I have lived in the Valley for over 39 years. I have recreated in this valley for the same amount of time. I lived near some of the proposed mine sites. I have spent time at active mine sites in southern Utah from the 1960`s thru 1980`s. I have seen GOOD mining and BAD mining practices. The Illinois Valley produces some of the BEST and CLEANEST WATER in the USA. THAT IS A FACT !!!
All the lands are connected. No matter what HUMAN boundaries you wish to apply to this or that situation. I will be speaking about all the lands in the Illinois Valley !!!
Allowing commercial mining to take place in this near pristine environment can never be allowed for thousands reasons. Obvious reasons are CLEAN WATER for everyone, people, domestic and wild animals, plants, reptiles, birds, insects, etc etc etc ...
Less obvious reasons, but just as important are the major pollution elements that will be brought from mining activities, mercury, cobalt, arsenic are just a VERY FEW that WILL be released into the environment. The winter weather, rain, snow, wind will gladly deliver these toxic elements to our clean water. Yet, much more will contribute contamination, tire debris, fuel fumes, fuel spills, oil spills, trash thrown from vehicles.
So many plants will be killed by allowing vehicle traffic. Some WILL be endangered plants and animals. And the allowing of STRIPPING of top soil that WILL take hundreds to thousands of years to heal, .... or possibly NEVER !
There is more I would like to add, but could go on and on, but I won`t.
The last time someone came into our valley hoping/planning to harvest nickel many acres of alyssum was planted in many areas. Some was harvested, baled and left at the IV Airport. LEFT there. It was never processed. IT started spreading all over the place, even leaving the valley. It caused the deaths of some livestock. To date it has COST the State of Oregon well OVER $2,000,000 to try and clean it up, over 20 years. Please show how this "mining" activity benefited the local community, the county, the state ?
Before any further commercial mining can happen in our mostly clean valley, There MUST be laws, not just rules, LAWS that will BENEFIT the VALLEY, the COUNTY, the STATE, in several POSSITIVE WAYS. Don`t make laws that benefit companies only, as they leave our valley with their pockets stuffed full, ours empty and torn !
AND IF these UNWELCOME visitors force their way here, There MUST be LAWS make by the State that the miners MUST FOLLOW BEFORE ANY MINING BEGINS about how THEY WILL CLEAN UP THE MESS THEY MAKE. An account will be opened and stocked by the miners with complete funds, of money that the company WILL NOT have assess to. The money will only be released by a third party to the miners as they clean up their own mess !!!!!!!!!!
WE NEED SOMETHING POSSITIVE TO HAPPEN IN THIS VALLEY !!!!!