Resource Extraction

Mining Co. Wants to Dig Near Mount St. Helens

By Dan Richardson, 2-14-06

A 3,000-acre copper mine near Mount St. Helens? That's what Spokane-based Idaho General Mines Inc. has proposed, lured by the rise in global copper prices. How big of a mine would that be? Big enough to lose the city of Hood River inside, with room to spare.

Idaho General Mines says an operation could provide up to 400 jobs, $400 million and last 40 years. No way, according to the Gifford Pinchot Task Force. That group says the mine would be "likely to operate for only about 15 years before the minerals are depleted. Once mine is closed, however, taxpayers will almost certainly be stuck with the bill for cleaning up the environmental devastation left behind. This proposed mine makes neither environmental nor economic sense."

The mining company would also dig for gold, molybdenum, and silver. The location would be in the Green River valley below Goat Mountain, which lies just east of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. One federal geologist said an open pit mine would big enough to bore out most of 5,400-foot Goat Mountain.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management said it's likely to take several months to analyze the company's application before deciding whether to a lease; the U.S. Forest Service must also sign on.

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