BLM nixes mining proposal near Mount St. Helens

The proposed mine near Mount St. Helens is dead, according to company officials after the Bureau of Land Management rejected a mining lease.

The BLM move didn’t completely preclude mining near the volcano but did acknowledge the strong public opposition to the project. But, given the decision, General Moly of Colorado has decided to halt its plans, officials said Wednesday afternoon.

“Given the decision ... we will spend no further time, money or effort on the application process (near Mount St. Helens),” said Seth Foreman, the company’s director of investor relations. “Our primary focus has been and will continue to be our two molybdenum development properties in Nevada.”

The company will retain its mineral rights near the volcano for the time being but has not plans to apply for any further leases or mining permits, Foreman said.

The company sought a lease to mine nearly 900 acres in the vicinity of Goat Mountain and approximately 12 miles from the volcano crater. Officials wanted to mine cooper, gold, silver and molybdenum. The land in question is near but not part of the 110,000 acre National Volcanic Monument.

Wednesday, the BLM took no action on the lease request, but cautioned that mine officials could still apply for mining permits if they wanted to continue with their plans.

The BLM concluded that it wasn’t possible to determine if the lease would be “compatible with the purpose for which the lands were re-acquired by the federal government,” according to a press release.

Several environmental groups and regional cities oppose the mine, saying it’s too close to the volcano and could threaten the drinking water of nearby cities. Numerous people filed comments with the BLM about the mine idea, which were considered in making the “no action” decision, according to the BLM.

For more on this story, see Thursday’s edition of The Daily News.