BCC opposes mining ban; demands coordination
From our weekly issue dated December 02, 2009
Commissioners Dave Toler (left) and Dwight Ellis listen to input from the overflow crowd. (Photos by Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley News )
Some Oregon officials have called for action to prohibit mining in the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area, but the Josephine County Board of Commissioners will not be among them.
During a Tuesday, Nov. 24 administrative meeting in the commission conference room at the courthouse in Grants Pass, the board voted 2-1, with Commissioner Dave Toler voting against the move, to send a letter expressing opposition to the proposed withdrawal.
Play an audio-recording of this meeting (1:15:50).
Gov. Kulongoski has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging the withdrawal. Similar letters also have been sent by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield).
More than 25 people packed the conference room for the meeting, with some attendees having to stand in the hallway.
The commissioners voted to send a letter of their own, stating that 26 percent of the land contained within the Siskiyou National Forest already is withdrawn from mineral entry.
“The welfare and cultural heritage of Josephine County is, and continues to, rely on its mineral and other natural resources for its economic well being,” the letter stated. “Josephine County has been and continues to be economically depressed due to the severe depression on the local timber industry.
“We believe that the proposed withdrawal will have a detrimental effect on Josephine County’s already stressed economy by destroying our local mineral industry,” the letter states.
Toler, an Illinois Valley resident, stated his opposition to sending the letter to Salazar and Vilsack.
“I’ve tried to make sense of the letter,” he said. “It has some contradictions in it.”
Chairman Dwight Ellis, who voted in favor with Vice Chairman Sandi Cassanelli, stated that once the government stops extraction, “they’re going to go for it all.” He said that he supports either maintaining the status quo, or possibly opening the area to more mining activity.
“I favor keeping resources available to the citizens of Josephine County,” Ellis said. “I believe our Lord put all this stuff on Earth for us to use.”
Ellis said that the letters from Kulongoski, Wyden, Merkley and DeFazio were “like a stake in the heart of the mining industry.”
Cassanelli moved to send the board’s letter to Vilsack and Salazar. Ellis seconded the motion.
Toler announced his intention to oppose the motion.
“I don’t think this letter will be a very effective letter,” Toler said. “I don’t think it will have any influence.”
Ellis allowed five members of the audience to comment on the letter. Speakers included Illinois Valley resident Fred Mittleman.
“Our land, I think, is very precious,” Mittleman said, opining that enough land already has been disturbed by human activity throughout past years.
Mittleman said that Cave Junction still is trying to develop its tourism industry, and espoused the virtues of conserving resources and maintaining public lands in their natural state. He said greater employment can be achieved through public works projects.
“We need, I think, a distribution of wealth,” he stated.
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Grants Pass resident Dale Matthews asked Toler what his “real objection” to the letter is. Toler answered that he doesn’t like to send “confusing letters to state and federal officials.”
Shane Jimerfield, executive director of the Siskiyou Project environmental group, said that less than half of 1 percent of the employment in Josephine County is due to mining. That includes Grants Pass firm Copeland Sand & Gravel, Jimerfield said, which wouldn’t be affected by the mineral withdrawal.
He said that as such, it would be “impossible to conclude” that the county relies on mining to sustain its economy. He added that the board’s letter is “not supported by historic fact.”
Toler questioned the county’s authority and jurisdiction regarding the matter.
A separate resolution calling for federal agencies to coordinate their plans with that of the county’s was passed 3-0 by the board.
The resolution states that “the economic base and stability of Josephine County is largely dependent upon commercial and business activities operated on federally and state owned, managed, and/or regulated lands that include, but are not limited to, recreation, tourism, timber harvesting, mining, livestock grazing, and other commercial pursuits.”
Coordination is required by various pieces of federal legislation, the resolution states, including the Federal Land Policy Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the Homeland Security Act.
Toler moved to approve the resolution, and Cassanelli seconded.
“What we’re trying to do is have a seat at the table,” Ellis said.
Ron Gibson, Southwest Oregon Mining Association vice president, said that he has been involved in “numerous coordination issues” throughout the year. He asked if anyone from the state government contacted the commissioners before Kulongoski sent his letter to Vilsack and Salazar. The commissioners shook their heads to indicate that no such communication had taken place.
Wolf Creek resident Ron Glynn urged the board to pass the resolution.
“I really don’t see a downside to this,” Glynn said. “Our county should have some input.”
To hear an audio recording of the meeting, visit www.co.josephine.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=790.
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