COMPLETED ACTION: Protect the Methow from Industrial-Scale Mining
Recently, mining interests have targeted the Methow Valley for exploratory drilling near Flagg Mountain as a preliminary step to developing a mine in the watershed. Mining in the area could have harmful effects on clean water for fish and residents, as well as have negative impacts on recreation and tourism in the Methow Valley which brings nearly 1 million visitors to the area and more than $150 million annually to Okanogan County.
On December 30th, 2016, In response to overwhelming local support, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officially announced the segregation notice for 340,000 acres in the Methow Headwaters region of Washington State. This essentially protects the Methow from mining for a two-year period in which these lands are off limits to mining interests. Now, the BLM wants public input as they evaluate an extension that would make the area off-limits to mining for 20 years.
Photo Courtesy of Methow Headwaters Campaign
Now, the governing agencies – the U.S. Forest Service and BLM – will evaluate a possible 20-year administrative mineral withdrawal extending the period during which mining would be prohibited on the Methow watershed’s federal lands.
What YOU Can Do
BLM is accepting public input to move forward with the 20-year withdrawal. The 90-day public comment period has begun and will close March 30, 2017. Take a moment today to write a letter and show how important the Methow is to you as a citizen.
Background
Back in October Washington Wild, as a member of the Methow Headwaters Campaign, joined 8 other conservation and recreation organizations on a joint comment letter. The letter urged the U.S. Forest Service to take immediate action upholding their commitment to a mineral withdrawal for the Methow Headwaters region of Washington State. The letter expressed the need to act quickly and protect the Methow from mining interests by officially starting the mineral withdrawal process by the end of the term and prevent facing down another exploratory drilling season on Flagg Mountain.
Nested on the east slope of the North Cascades just outside North Cascades National Park, the Methow Valley and Headwaters region of Washington is one of the state’s most popular destinations. The Methow offers exceptional recreation opportunities, is home to diverse wildlife and is the source of cool, clean waters for famers, residents and fish.
In May of 2016 Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Methow Headwaters Protection Act of 2016 which would protect 340,000 acres of National Forest in the Methow Valley from potential development of a large-scale mine. The legislation, to be considered during the BLMs two year mineral withdrawal, would permanently restrict potential mining related development (including near Flagg Mountain) in order to protect the headwaters of the Methow River and the robust local tourism economy and rural communities in the valley. Read Sen. Murray’s press release.
On December 30th, 2106 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a two-year “timeout” on mining in the Methow Valley.
