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Forest Service meets with public on Hall
Mountain drilling project |
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July 2, 2014 |
Turns out there was much more interest and
concern about the Hall Mountain test drilling
project than the Forest Service anticipated.
Even though the project has apparently been in
the works over at least the past year or so, it
flew under the radar of most people in the area
right up until now, as the drills are literally
about to bite into the ground on Hall Mountain
within the next couple of weeks.
Articles that appeared on NewsBF, the Bonners
Ferry Herald, and in the
Spokesman-Review over the past week, and the
power of word of mouth, suddenly made this an
unexpected big issue in Boundary County.
Forest Service representatives had scheduled a
meeting yesterday (Tuesday, July 1) to discuss
the project, arranging to meet with a few
individuals who had expressed questions or
wanted more information. Even though the meeting
had been arranged and announced on very short
notice, word of mouth quickly spread, and
approximately 30 vocal people showed up at the
U.S. Forest Service office in Bonners Ferry to
learn more about international mining company
MMG Limited, and that company's plans to test
drill three sites on Hall Mountain to look for
zinc. (For more details on the drilling
project, please click here to see the story
previously published on NewsBF). It was
apparent at the meeting that had there been more
time for word to get around, or more public
notice given, likely many more than those thirty
would have been in attendance.
Kevin Knauth, District Ranger for the Bonners
Ferry Ranger District, along with two geologists
out of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests'
Coeur d'Alene office, Josh Sadler and Kevin
Knesek, presented information on details of the
project, which took approximately 10 minutes.
Then, for the next hour and a half, they took
and answered questions, and heard comments and
opinion from those in attendance.
The Forest Service team first outlined how the
operation will work at Hall Mountain. Drilling
will be around the clock, with two 12-hour
shifts. Drilling will occur on or near existing
Forest Service roads. Water required for the
project will be withdrawn from sites permitted
by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. All
fluids used in the drilling process will be in a
closed system, and will not be flushed out or
left at the site. Agreements are in place to
mitigate the effects of the drilling project's
noise and light on grizzly bears in the area.
Equipment at the drilling site will include a
hydraulic core drill, a water supply truck, a
generator, welder, air compressor, and a jump
truck for fuel. A pickup truck, ATV, and low boy
and tractor will also be at the site.
Drilling depths should run between 900-2,000
feet. According to the Forest Service
presentation, all drill holes, each about three
inches diameter at ground surface level, will be
plugged when the test drilling is complete in
about three weeks.
The mood of the crowd could be described as
respectful, but concerned. Although there were a
variety of questions and comments over the hour
and a half following the Forest Service's brief
presentation, most of the remarks by those in
attendance centered on two areas: effects of the
drilling on water in the area, including ground
water and the household water of those who live
in the area.
The second major point of concern was the
perceived lack of public notification and public
input on this project, many people pointing out
that they had only just heard about this, even
though the project could have potential impact
on many people in the area and for our county in
general.
Regarding making the public more aware of this
particular drilling project, Mr. Knauth stated
that the Forest Service "followed the process we
were required to follow," but that even though
legal guidelines for notification of the public
were met, that notification was likely minimal
given the now apparent interest in this project
and its overall effects.
"Clearly," said Mr. Knauth, "this one
necessitated more attention than we gave it
initially."
The Forest Service staff in attendance made
available to all present copies of maps of the
area on Hall Mountain where the drilling is set
to take place, They promised to provide more
information to local residents regarding this or
future similar projects, and passed around a
sheet for all in attendance to record their
mailing addresses, promising that future mining
or minerals projects up for consideration in
Boundary County will have details mailed to all
those who were interested and who provided their
mailing addresses. |
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