IRU participates in negotiated rulemaking to ensure our rivers have a voice

IRU continues work to protect the South Fork of the Salmon River from a large-scale gold mining proposal. The Stibnite Gold Project, proposed by Midas Gold Corporation, is still in the midst of the regulatory process, and we are awaiting the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement sometime in spring 2020. 

In the meantime, the state of Idaho is updating it’s regulations, through a process called Negotiated Rulemaking, for the use of cyanide to extract minerals from ore. The agency responsible for implementing this regulation is the Department of Environmental Quality, and interested stakeholders are able to attend public meetings and submit comments on the changes to this rule. 

Any mining project that proposes to use cyanidation techniques to extract minerals must apply for a permit through DEQ. The rule was last updated in 2005, and no permits have been issued to date since the last update. With upcoming permit applications on the Stibnite Gold Project, and gold exploration in the Owyhee river basin, it’s a critical time to ensure that we protect our waterways from both the short and long-term risks of cyanide leach mining. 

IRU continues to participate in the rulemaking process and submit comments, because we have great concern for the potential impacts of cyanide leach mining to Idaho’s ESA listed Bull Trout, Chinook Salmon, and Steelhead; as well as the incredible recreational values that our healthy rivers provide.

Cyanide spills have caused environmental disasters around the globe, including massive fish kills. The Summitville Mine disaster in Colorado destroyed a portion of the Alamosa River, which became devoid of aquatic life. The 2000 Baia Mare Disaster in Romania poisoned the Tisza River with cyanide, wiping out the entire aquatic ecosystem. This led many European countries to ban the use of cyanide, and for the European Union to strictly increase regulations.

Our neighboring state of Montana banned the use of cyanide mining in 1998, following the Zortman-Landusky mine disaster that left taxpayers with a $50 million cleanup bill. Out of industries in the USA, mining is the largest contributor to toxic pollution, accounting 47% or 1.8 billion pounds of releases in 2018 (EPA 2020). A 2017 study of 27 Gold Mines in the US found that 100% of the mines studied had at least 1 spill or accidental toxic release. 74% of the mines studied contaminated water.

Will Idaho have to wait for our own major disaster before we reconsider the use of this toxic chemical in our great state? We hope not. In the meantime, we’ll keep our voice at the table to ensure that our regulatory agencies and mining companies are held accountable. Stay tuned for upcoming public comment periods on the final rule, and for upcoming permit applications.