And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 09:16:31 -0700 To: "Wild Rockies Alerts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: Wild Rockies InfoNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Comment on Rocky Mtn Front mining moratorium ------------------------------------ Send a letter or e-mail message to: ------------------------------------ Forest Supervisor Rick Prausa Lewis & Clark National Forest PO Box 869 Great Falls, Montana 59403 ------------------------------------ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------ Mention some or all of the following "scoping comments" for the Forest Service EIS on the Rocky Mountain Front mining moratorium: 1. The two-year moratorium is a good thing. Make it PERMANENT. 2. As part of the Bob Marshall Ecosystem, the Rocky Mountain Front is the finest unclassified wildland in North America. It has "national park" character. It tops the scale of wilderness values. 3. Biologists rank it in the top 1% of wildlife habitat in North America. Every wildlife species is here that was here when white men (Lewis & Clark) first came through the area. 4. "Backbone of the World" for Native Americans -- sacred ground, spiritual values for Native and non-Indian people alike. 5. Long history of conservation measures: establishment of Sun River Game Preserve, three Fish-Wildlife-&-Parks' Wildlife Management Areas, Nature Conservancy Pine Butte Preserve, Boone & Crockett Teddy Roosevelt Memorial Ranch, conservation easements on private ranchlands, etc. 6. No valid mining claims exist in the entire Rocky Mtn Front. The claims staked in Blackleaf-Muddy Cr area are speculative, according to most geologists. The formations simply are not conducive to hardrock minerals. 7. The nature of the 1872 Mining Law encourages speculation -- a permanent mining moratorium is needed to prevent "playing games" -- holding our finest public wildland "hostage" until U.S. taxpayers come up with "ransom money", as happened at New World Mine near Yellowstone. 8. Hardrock mining such as Zortman-Landusky is not compatible with a wild area such as the Rocky Mountain Front. This area is the very best of the last 5% of undeveloped landscapes in the lower 48 states. 9. Public sentiment is broad and deep to preserve the wild character of the Rocky Mtn Front. Public comments and opinion polls have shown strong and solid support for preserving the wild "Front". Recent Forest Service decision offers NO new oil & gas leases. 10. Inherent values far exceed all the diamonds or gold that might be found in the area. Geologists say there is minimal chance of finding commercial quantities of hardrock minerals here anyway. 11. Tell your own personal reasons about how much "the Front" means to you. Many thanks! Gene Sentz Friends of the Rocky Mountain Front PO Box 763 Choteau, Montana 59422 406-466-2750 ************************************************************************ List-Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> News Submissions or Problems: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> This list is a public service provided by WIN: http://www.wildrockies.org &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
