Recreation & Conservation Groups Oppose Legislation to Facilitate Mining on Federal Lands

Today Washington Wild joined 34 local businesses, conservation and recreation organizations who sent a letter to Chair Lisa Murkowski and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell on the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee concerning the Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017. The letter expresses grave concerns on the critical minerals section of the legislation which […]
The Year Ahead: 2017 Program Priorities

FIGHT Attacks on our Public Lands Over the next four years our wild lands and waters will be under siege. We expect renewed Congressional attacks on bedrock environmental laws like the Wilderness Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. We also anticipate efforts by the incoming Administration to weaken conservation policies and […]
COMPLETED ACTION: Proposed Quarry Expansion Threatens Ancient Forests, Wildlife and Drinking Water

TAKE ACTION United Western Supply has proposed expanding an existing olivine rock quarry onto national forest lands including the Mt. Baker West inventoried roadless area in Whatcom County. Located north of the Twin Sisters, the proposal would expand into intact old-growth forests that serve as part of the municipal watershed for the City of Bellingham. […]
Court Says Mt. St. Helens Is No Place For A Mine

A federal district court struck down the federal government’s approval of a controversial mining exploration project on federal public lands adjacent to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The court found that the government’s approval of the 900-acre project violated numerous federal public land and environmental laws and was not consistent with the purpose for […]
Washington Wild Raises Concerns over Flagg Mountain Mining Proposal in Methow Valley

Washington Wild submitted comments to the Wenatchee-Okanogan National Forest expressing concerns about a new proposal to green light exploratory drilling as a preliminary step to a potential open pit mine in Okanogan County. A Canadian mining firm has put forward the request, which is moving forward under a “categorical exclusion” from the National Environmental Policy […]
Buckhorn Mine Expansion Withdrawn

Echo Bay/Kinross mining company announced they are withdrawing a 2010 proposal to pursue exploratory drilling over more than 9,000 acres of public land near Tonasket and Chesaw in Okanagan County. The company asked to build up to 72 miles of new roads and 675 new drill pad sites, and drill 965 exploration holes on state, […]
Forest Service Approves Exploratory Drilling Near Mount St. Helens

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest authorized plans to explore for minerals near Mount St. Helens. Ascot Resources Ltd., a mining company based in Canada, applied to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and USFS to conduct exploratory drilling on approximately 900 acres of land, 217 acres of which they own a 50% interest. The exploratory […]