‘Explore’ protection for back country

“Mining comeback? Company Eyes Copper Extraction in Gifford Pinchot Forest.” That eye-catching headline capped a Columbian story Aug. 1, 2005.

Five years later, on June 27, 2010, The Columbian printed this story-topper: “New mining company wants to drill in Gifford Pinchot.” The story concerned drilling exploration in the same area, the Mount Margaret Backcountry about 12 miles northeast of Mount St. Helens.

Indeed, this story keeps coming back to alarm area residents.

Mount Margaret, 5,868 feet high, and the Mount Margaret Backcountry — a hiker’s paradise — are time-worn, gritty, craggy and crusty. But their beauty will never fade unless aided by the hand of man in his never-ending quest for profitable resources.

Copper is in short supply and the price looks promising. Reuters reported July 9 that copper prices rose to $6,775 per ton Canadian on the London Metal Exchange. The headline: “Metals — Copper ends up on improving global demand signals.” In 2005, Ascot’s then-President Robert Russell said the “Southwest Washington mine could produce between 100,000 and 200,000 tons of copper per year,” according to a Columbian article by Erik Robinson.

That’s why those who love, cherish and value Mount Margaret must be ever watchful.

Ascot Resources of Canada bought a land lease from General Moly Inc., formerly known as Idaho General Mines, which mines molybdenum, among other metals. General Moly was denied an application by the Bureau of Land Management in 2008 for a hard-rock lease to mine copper. Now, Ascot wants to drill 14 more exploratory holes to “determine what’s down there,” said Bob Fujimoto, Region 6 geologist for the U.S. Forest Service based in Portland. Fujimoto said Ascot cannot stake a mining claim, but can obtain an exploratory lease, if it is approved by BLM.

The area covers 208 acres, half owned by the U.S. Forest Service and half owned by the company. The company wants to drill the 14 holes to add to the 100 already drilled in the 1970s, to “determine whether to push ahead and apply to the BLM for a minimum lease,” the geologist said. Each core hole is 2.5 inches in diameter. The well holes would each be a little more than 1,000 feet deep, he added. Wells would not affect surface water.

Answer is years away

The company wants to start drilling this summer, using an old road for access. But there is doubt the work could start before snow blocks the area in November. Fujimoto said it will be months before a decision is made by BLM on whether to authorize drilling. BLM and the Forest Service are coordinating efforts to determine what kind of threats to water or other harm might result. “It will be years before the question of leasing is settled.”

Janine Clayton, Gifford Pinchot National Forest supervisor, said the company would have “a long way to go” before developing a producing mine. She said local people will have a voice.

Al Frame, Ascot’s outside director, said the company plans a “town hall” meeting July 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Morton Senior Citizens Center hall, about 40 miles east of Centralia. Frame, Rick Kasum, project manager for Ascot and Graeme Evans, geologist for the company, will attend.

A strong watchdog for the forest is the Gifford Pinchot Task Force in Portland, which seeks to protect Northwest communities through biological diversity and restoration of forests, rivers, fish and wildlife. Considering drinking water and other toxic concerns, “there could not be a worse place for mine development,” said Emily Platt, executive director. Some 48,000 comments were received in 2008, she added. BLM rejected the development. Ascot is taking a different approach, proposing to drill more exploratory holes to acquire additional information.

“Exploring” or not, the threat of blemishing forests and disturbing the ecological balance, not to mention contaminating water supplies, remains a concern that must not be cast aside. It can happen all at once, as in the Gulf of Mexico tragedy, or here at home by extracting resources for profit.