Take Action: All we want for Christmas is a mineral withdrawal
This Christmas, please join us in asking Santa for something extra special: a mineral withdrawal in southwest Oregon that benefits California too!
Here’s what’s at stake:
the purest of waters and wildest of rivers;
a stronghold of native salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout; and
a treasure trove of botanical diversity with one of the highest concentrations of rare plants in North America.
Mining companies want to develop nickel strip mines in pristine, wild lands in southwest Oregon, including the headwaters of California’s famed Smith River. Senators Wyden and Merkley and Congressman DeFazio have long supported withdrawing the fragile watersheds of Rough and Ready and Baldface creeks (headwaters of the Wild and Scenic Illinois and North Fork Smith rivers) from mining, and we’ve urged them to add Hunter Creek’s headwaters—equally fragile—to their roster. Congressman Huffman has joined them to protect the Wild and Scenic Smith River.
There’s not much time. Immediate introduction of legislation to withdraw the area from mining is needed. This will protect these priceless federal public lands by closing them to mining unless there’s a valid existing right.
It’s our best way to protect the crystal clear, salmon-studded waters of the wild rivers coast from damaging pollution.
Take Action: Urge the Oregon and California delegation to introduce legislation to protect this wild and wonderful area from mining!
EPIC is a member of the Kalmiopsis Rivers group, we would like to thank them for providing the content of this action alert.
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