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Miners, Foes Reach Deal on Cleanup of Boise River Pollution

Posted on: Thursday, 20 October 2005, 21:00 CDT

By Rocky Barker, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Oct. 20--A Canadian gold mining company and the Idaho Conservation League joined together Wednesday to announce a plan to clean up historic mine pollution flowing into the Boise River.

Atlanta Gold Corp. reached a settlement with the statewide environmental group to settle its lawsuit demanding the mining company get a federal permit for the discharges of arsenic flowing out of an old mine tunnel near Atlanta. The agreement still must be approved by a federal judge.

The company intends to spend $41 million to open a mine at the site in 2007.

The Idaho Conservation League opposes the mine because of the threat it would add pollution to the Boise River, a growing source of drinking water for Boise residents and long a source for irrigation for crops and popular for fishing and other recreation.

But the two foes found common ground over cleaning up the waste that dates back to 1917.

"We are gratified to work cooperatively with the Idaho Conservation League toward ensuring that state-of-the-art technology is used for this cleanup job," said Atlanta Gold general manager Bruce Thorndycraft.

"Whenever an organization is willing to protect or improve water quality we're happy to work with them," said John Robison, of the Idaho Conservation League.

Atlanta Gold agreed to complete a new, more sophisticated water treatment plant by Dec. 1 to clean the water running into Montezuma Creek, a tributary of the Boise River.

It also agreed to create a $25,000 fund for other Boise River clean-up projects that are not tied to its mining project.

The company also will extend its cleanup to other historic tunnels on its proposed mine site and get a permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency whether or not it goes ahead with a mine.

"We didn't cause the mine drainage at our Atlanta property, but we recognize the need to clean it up," Thorndycraft said.

Atlanta Gold plans to mine as much as 100,000 ounces of gold annually for five and a half years once it obtains permits from the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies.

It plans to build two open pits on the mountain, where mines have operated on and off since 1864. It would leach the gold from the ore by seeping cyanide solution through crushed ore on a lined pad.

The Idaho Conservation League has not changed its position about future mining in the Boise River basin, despite its joint statement with Atlanta Gold.

"We remain adamantly opposed to the larger heap leach mine because of potential impacts on drinking water in the Treasure Valley," Robison said.

Atlanta Gold is a subsidiary of Twin Mining Corp., based in Toronto. It has not previously mined in Idaho.

The issuing of a joint press release demonstrates that the two foes see benefits from standing together, said Boise State University political science professor John Freemuth.

"Obviously, the mining company wants to show it has acted pro-actively to clean up old waste and can be trusted to open a new mine," Freemuth said. "I think the ICL is trying to send a message that they are willing to fight for what they believe in but also that they are pragmatic."

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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Source: The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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