Local resident, Martha Turner does a great job of asking questions about why in the world Rise Gold thought it would be a good idea to open a mine in our community.
I have lived in this community most of my life and am deeply concerned about the possibility of Rise Gold reopening the Idaho-Maryland Mine. I am trying to understand why this company chose to try to open this particular mine in Grass Valley. These are some of my questions:
∎ Was it hoped that the residents of our rural county would simply open our arms to such a heavy industrial operation just 0.6 miles from the Grass Valley city limits?
∎ Was it hoped that we would welcome plans for the waste rock to be trucked, dumped, and compacted at the 56-acre Centennial site, which is two miles away from the mine site and surrounded on three sides by Grass Valley city limits?
∎ Was it hoped we would think this to be a good idea to create a 21 acre, 80- to 90-foot-tall mound on top of an existing toxic waste site?
∎ Was it expected that gold fever and promises of lots of money coming into the economy would keep us from recognizing the enormous cost of such theoretical gains? Most of the jobs they say they will create will be filled by experienced people they bring in.
Read the rest in The Union.
Martha Turner lives in Grass Valley