Letter: Allow preliminary exploration
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Residents here are tired of the nonsense being pushed by out-of-touch, anti-business activists who do not understand — or perhaps don't care to — the profound need for jobs and industry in Southwest Washington.
I want to see Ascot Resources succeed in their exploratory mineral drilling work because their success will ultimately translate into jobs, new business activity and a revitalized local economy. But out-of-state activists don't get it. They waste time spreading fear about mining, relying on out-of-date case studies in other states. There's time to discuss how modern mines coexist with the environment — and can do so here. But first, we need to do the preliminary work, see whether the mineral deposits are economically viable.
Let's not lose sight that Ascot just wants to explore right now — nothing more. Ascot has a sound plan to do its exploration work, a plan that's been reviewed and assessed favorably by the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM needs to stop letting outside lobbying groups push them around and stall the process. Our leaders need to display some integrity and confidence in the process we have in place, and let Ascot move forward with its exploration work.
Neil Arnott
Randle
