WSU-Vancouver lecture to focus on mining project near volcano
Author and filmmaker Bill Carter will speak Wednesday about a proposed copper mine near Mount St. Helens and his new book about copper mining, "Boom, Bust, Boom — A Story About Copper, the Metal that Runs the World."
Ascot Resources is seeking approval for another round of test drilling in the Goat Mountain area to determine if copper, gold and molybdenum deposits are suitable for commercial mining. The area is 12 miles north of the volcano, near the northern border of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
Ascot drilled several test holes in an area in 2010, but further drilling of 63 testing as been delayed by appeals by the Gifford Pinchot Task Force, an environmental group, said Bob Evans, Ascot's CEO Evans added. The appeal is scheduled to be heard May 19 in the U.S. District Court in Portland.
"We have concerns about the drilling projects, specifically with the water they will be using. They're proposing to use up to 5,000 gallons from an unknown aquifer and the Green River is just a half a mile away. The Environmental Assessment didn't show there was a connection, but it was not confirmed," said Jessica Schafer, director for the Gifford Pinchot Task Force.
The group also is concerned about drilling fluids Ascot will use and whether they could contaminate other water sources.
Carter, who also directed the 1995 documentary film "Miss Sarajevo," is being hosted by Washington State University. His lecture takes place in the Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event is free.
WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. Parking is free for this event.
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