The Green River Valley just north of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is a place of profound beauty, deep significance to Indigenous communities, a gene bank for wild steelhead, and a beloved destination for outdoor recreation.
This landscape is worth more than any short-term profits potentially extracted at the expense of public interest, health, biodiversity, and the rights of future generations to enjoy this corner of the Cascades.
Yet federal agencies have repeatedly approved mining exploration here. Initial drilling would disrupt recreation opportunities and pollute groundwater. If sufficient ore deposits were found, the resulting 6,000-acre open-pit mine and tailing ponds would be exponentially worse.
This month, Cascade Forest Conservancy is celebrating the fourth victory in 14 years in our ongoing fight to halt these developments. Even so, our work isn’t over; permits have been reissued following previous victories. We are asking Congress to legislate a lasting solution by enacting a mineral withdrawal — a designation preventing mining within the valley.
To sway Congress, community involvement is imperative. Please sign CFC’s petition requesting a mineral withdrawal and attend an upcoming info session. Together, we can ensure that Mount St. Helens and the Green River Valley are no place for a mine — for good.
