04-24-2006, 02:51 PM
[font "Tms Rmn"][size 7][center]Boise River makes the List of Most Endangered Rivers in the United States[/center] [center][/center] [center] [/center]
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WASHINGTON DC – A Canadian mining company’s proposal for a cyanide heap leach gold mine upstream of Boise placed the Boise River in the top ten list of the nation’s most endangered rivers. American Rivers listed the Boise River as America’s sixth-most endangered river for 2006.
Idaho’s Boise River provides drinking water for 55,000 people, irrigates 300,000 acres of farmland, and hosts over 100,000 floaters a year. The mining company, Atlanta Gold, plans to blast two giant pits and remove over 1,000 feet of mountain in the river’s headwaters. Rock taken from the pits would be crushed and placed on leach pads, then doused with a cyanide solution to extract any gold. More than 27 million tons of mining waste containing arsenic would be dumped in a valley overlooking the town of Atlanta, Idaho.
Sportsmen, conservationists, and families downstream are concerned about the massive amounts of cyanide and diesel fuel that will be hauled and stored on site. The Boise River provides more than 20 percent of Boise’s drinking water supply.
"When you look at the slew of hazardous chemicals involved, cyanide is only the tip of the iceberg. In addition to trucking over a million pounds of cyanide along the river every year, the mine would require hauling hundreds of truckloads of diesel fuel and stockpiling it in the heart of our watershed," said John Robison of the Idaho Conservation League.
"Cyanide heap leach mining has an abysmal record of environmental damage. Despite assurances that this project will involve "state of the art technology" the reality is, this type of mining process consistently fails," said Kevin Lewis of Idaho Rivers United.
American Rivers and its partners on the Boise, the Idaho Conservation League and Idaho Rivers United, today called on state and federal decision makers to deny key permits for the proposed open pit mine. "The Boise River is the lifeblood of the Treasure Valley," said Kevin Lewis of Idaho Rivers United. "Over 40% of Idahoans use the river for drinking water, irrigation, and recreation. We simply can’t let the possibility of a toxic spill threaten the valley’s most important resource. "
The annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers report highlights ten rivers facing a major turning point in the coming year, where action by citizens can make a huge difference for both community well-being and river health. The report highlights the rivers facing the most uncertain futures rather than those suffering from the worst chronic problems. The report identifies those who make the crucial decisions, and points out opportunities for the public to take action on behalf of each listed river. For more information, visit: [/font][font "Tms Rmn"][#0000ff]
http://www.americanrivers.org[/#0000ff][/font][font "Tms Rmn"]
For more information, please contact Kevin Lewis at (208) 343-7481.
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WASHINGTON DC – A Canadian mining company’s proposal for a cyanide heap leach gold mine upstream of Boise placed the Boise River in the top ten list of the nation’s most endangered rivers. American Rivers listed the Boise River as America’s sixth-most endangered river for 2006.
Idaho’s Boise River provides drinking water for 55,000 people, irrigates 300,000 acres of farmland, and hosts over 100,000 floaters a year. The mining company, Atlanta Gold, plans to blast two giant pits and remove over 1,000 feet of mountain in the river’s headwaters. Rock taken from the pits would be crushed and placed on leach pads, then doused with a cyanide solution to extract any gold. More than 27 million tons of mining waste containing arsenic would be dumped in a valley overlooking the town of Atlanta, Idaho.
Sportsmen, conservationists, and families downstream are concerned about the massive amounts of cyanide and diesel fuel that will be hauled and stored on site. The Boise River provides more than 20 percent of Boise’s drinking water supply.
"When you look at the slew of hazardous chemicals involved, cyanide is only the tip of the iceberg. In addition to trucking over a million pounds of cyanide along the river every year, the mine would require hauling hundreds of truckloads of diesel fuel and stockpiling it in the heart of our watershed," said John Robison of the Idaho Conservation League.
"Cyanide heap leach mining has an abysmal record of environmental damage. Despite assurances that this project will involve "state of the art technology" the reality is, this type of mining process consistently fails," said Kevin Lewis of Idaho Rivers United.
American Rivers and its partners on the Boise, the Idaho Conservation League and Idaho Rivers United, today called on state and federal decision makers to deny key permits for the proposed open pit mine. "The Boise River is the lifeblood of the Treasure Valley," said Kevin Lewis of Idaho Rivers United. "Over 40% of Idahoans use the river for drinking water, irrigation, and recreation. We simply can’t let the possibility of a toxic spill threaten the valley’s most important resource. "
The annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers report highlights ten rivers facing a major turning point in the coming year, where action by citizens can make a huge difference for both community well-being and river health. The report highlights the rivers facing the most uncertain futures rather than those suffering from the worst chronic problems. The report identifies those who make the crucial decisions, and points out opportunities for the public to take action on behalf of each listed river. For more information, visit: [/font][font "Tms Rmn"][#0000ff]
http://www.americanrivers.org[/#0000ff][/font][font "Tms Rmn"]
For more information, please contact Kevin Lewis at (208) 343-7481.
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