ACT NOW! Proposal for massive open-pit mine threatens Idaho’s SF Salmon River

SF Salmon River | Photo by Zack Waterman

Through January 10, 2023, the U.S. Forest Service is accepting comments on a proposal to build a massive open-pit, cyanide vat leach mine in the headwaters of the South Fork Salmon River in central Idaho. Developers of the Stibnite Gold Project hope to construct a sprawling mining complex that would bury mountain valleys with hundreds of millions of tons of mining waste, destroy critical fish habitat, and impair water quality for hundreds of years. 

The South Fork Salmon River is a national treasure that provides critical spawning habitat for Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout. It is aboriginal territory to Tribal Nations whose members exercise treaty rights in this area and provides world class whitewater recreation and opportunities for solitude.  If allowed to proceed, the Stibnite Gold Project would:

Threaten long-term water quality in the South Fork Salmon River, as well as the Main Salmon River, into which it flows. 
Negatively impact the nearby Middle Fork Salmon River and Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness with noise, air, and light pollution. 
Adversely impact one of Idaho’s most ecologically important watersheds for generations.

In October 2022, the Forest Service released a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Stibnite Gold Project. Unfortunately, critical analysis on the environmental impacts of this project is deeply flawed or missing entirely. 

Please take action to protect Idaho’s South Fork Salmon River today. Tell the Forest Service BY JANUARY 10, 2023 that you expect a thorough and lawful environmental review!

Background on the Stibnite Gold Project

Through January 10, 2023, the U.S. Forest Service is accepting comments on a proposal to build a massive open-pit, cyanide vat leach mine in the headwaters of the South Fork Salmon River in central Idaho. Developers of the Stibnite Gold Project hope to construct a sprawling mining complex that would bury mountain valleys with hundreds of millions of tons of mining waste, destroy critical fish habitat, and impair water quality for hundreds of years. 

The South Fork Salmon River is a national treasure that provides critical spawning habitat for Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout. It is aboriginal territory to Tribal Nations whose members exercise treaty rights in this area and provides world class whitewater recreation and opportunities for solitude.  If allowed to proceed, the Stibnite Gold Project would:

Threaten long-term water quality in the South Fork Salmon River, as well as the Main Salmon River, into which it flows. 
Negatively impact the nearby Middle Fork Salmon River and Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness with noise, air, and light pollution. 
Adversely impact one of Idaho’s most ecologically important watersheds for generations.

In October 2022, the Forest Service released a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Stibnite Gold Project. Unfortunately, critical analysis on the environmental impacts of this project is deeply flawed or missing entirely. 

Please take action to protect Idaho’s South Fork Salmon River today. Tell the Forest Service BY JANUARY 10, 2023 that you expect a thorough and lawful environmental review!

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Ms. Jackson,

Thank you for the opportunity to provide the following comments on the Stibnite Gold Project Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS).

I am writing to urge the Forest Service to conduct additional analysis for the Stibnite Gold Project, which is in the headwaters of Idaho’s South Fork Salmon River. As detailed more below, the current SDEIS is not sufficient or lawful because it: (1) fails to adequately consider impacts to eligible, suitable, and congressionally designated Wild & Scenic Rivers or opportunities to mitigate impacts; (2) lacks key information and analysis necessary for an informed public review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and (3) needs to consider a reasonable range of alternatives. Absent additional analysis, I do not believe that the most basic requirements of the NEPA will have been met.

Impacts to eligible, suitable, and congressionally designated Wild & Scenic Rivers have not been adequately considered. The SDEIS completely fails to address potential adverse impacts to the congressionally designated Main Salmon and Middle Fork Salmon rivers. Impacts to water quality in the South Fork Salmon River and its headwaters may negatively impact the Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs) of the Main Salmon River. The Middle Fork Salmon River will likely be impacted, as the Burntlog access route uses significant portions of the high divide that separates the South Fork Salmon and Middle Fork Salmon River watersheds. Light, visual, water, and dust pollution may impact the scenery ORVs of the Middle Fork Salmon River. Additionally, three rivers within the project analysis area have been deemed to be eligible or suitable for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System: Burntlog Creek (eligible), Johnson Creek (eligible), and the South Fork Salmon River (suitable). While the SDEIS acknowledges that mining activities would adversely impact ORVs for water quality and fish, there is no consideration of mitigation measures to reduce impacts - such as graveling access roads to reduce sedimentation.

The SDEIS lacks key information and analysis necessary for an informed review as required by NEPA, including basic engineering specifications and analysis of the tailing’s storage facility, sediment modeling, or detailed reclamation plans.

The SDEIS fails to consider a reasonable range of alternatives. The SDEIS only considers the mine applicant’s proposed mine plan and no alternative action. This is not a reasonable range of alternatives. Please evaluate an alternative that utilizes underground mining operations rather than open-pit mining. Underground mining operations would greatly reduce the most adverse environmental impacts and must be considered. At minimum, the Forest Service should consider a third alternative that significantly reduces negative ecological impacts.

Finally, the Stibnite Gold Project will negatively impact the treaty-reserved rights of the Nez Perce Tribe and other indigenous peoples. The SDEIS clearly states that “Adverse impacts to tribal rights and interests under either alternative, including preventing access to traditional lands, harming traditional fishing and hunting rights, impacting endangered salmon and concerns that it would harm the tribe’s salmon restoration efforts”.

Please incorporate missing information and analysis necessary to make an informed decision among alternatives and allow additional time for public comment prior to issuance of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Stibnite Gold Project.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

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