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From RuralNorthwest.com Bonner News
As we take a stand, we make our voices heard, each on a separate path, yet in the same direction. The goal is to preserve the Clark Fork River and Lake Pend Oreille. We are encouraged for the future by our common hopes strengthened by our common dedication. As we view and contemplate “Rock Creek Falls,” we feel its magnificence and power. The essence of Rock Creek fills us with euphoria and healing energy. We experience a oneness with nature and the universe. The pure flowing water represents our future, our health and the preservation of our natural environment. Barbara Janusz On Monday, March 28, 2005, a Montana Federal District Court granted the Rock Creek Alliance’s motion for summary judgment. This invalidated a biological opinion filed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW), said Administrative Director of the Rock Creek Alliance, Michelle Murphy. The recent district court ruling means the Rock Creek Mine cannot operate until a valid biological opinion is in place. The judgment stated the USFW’s biological opinion did not comply with the Endangered Species Act with respect to the threatened species of grizzly bear and bull trout.
Murphy explained the Rock Creek Alliance formed in 1998 to stop the development of the Rock Creek Mine in northwestern Montana. The ore body for the proposed mine is located underneath the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness area she said. If allowed to proceed, according to Murphy, the Rock Creek Mine would be the first mine allowed to operate within a federally designated wilderness area. The Alliance was formed to stop the development of this mine. Loren Albright, an original member of the Alliance board of directors and a member of the national board of Trout Unlimited, said, “Our biggest concern of course is the water issue. Any threat of failure at the Rock Creek Mine would end up in the Clark Fork River, which is just upstream from Lake Pend Oreille. Water degradation in the river and lake will go against everything that’s been done over the years by federal agencies, private individuals, and city municipalities to clean up the river and the creek.” Albright said damage to the water quality of the Clark Fork River would also affect the threatened species of bull trout living in the river. “Our funding source for the Alliance is begging, borrowing, donations and soliciting members across the Country.”
The exhibition includes the 30 inch by 38 inch framed original watercolor painting by Barbara Janusz, valued between $2,400 and $2,800, and a lost wax cast bronze sculpture of a moose, by Gabe Gabel, valued at $1,800. The Cire Perdue Foundry will cast the limited edition sculpture, which, according to Gabel, will be one of 20. “The moose is almost an icon for north Idaho. I am grateful for the chance to contribute. I encourage everyone to come to the unveiling to find out more about the art and the Alliance,” said Gabel. The Alliance will show the artwork at different events and move it to various locations to continue the raffle throughout the summer months. The Rock Creek Alliance Board of Directors will announce the winners of the raffle at the Alliance’s annual meeting at the end of the summer. Along with the donated artwork, a waterfall series entitled “Our Precious Resource” will also be on display at the gallery said Janusz, and a gicleé limited edition of Rock Creek Falls. The gicleé will be for sale, by order, at the Art Works Gallery, and at each event displaying the donated artwork. Gicleé is a French name for the spraying on of inks; the inks are archival on 100 percent rag paper, it will be a small edition of 225 explained Janusz. “These prints are museum quality and a portion of the sales of the gicleé will also go toward the Alliance’s efforts to prevent the development of the Rock Creek Mine.” According to Albright, Lake Pend Oreille is the economic basis of northern Idaho. He said he believes a large portion of the people moving in to the Bonner County area do so because of the lake and the mountains. He said to lose the quality of the water in the lake would produce a devastating effect to the economy. “There is a tremendous risk to the lake and river and we get zero benefit,” said Murphy. “Idaho doesn’t get jobs and our entire economy is put at risk. These are the reasons why the Sandpoint City Council and the Bonner County Commissioners have issued a resolution against the mine.” The history of the debate goes back to the Revett Mining Company, formerly operating as Sterling Mining Company, explained Murphy. The State of Montana has granted the Rock Creek Mine permits to discharge up to three million gallons of treated wastewater daily into the Clark Fork River. According to Albright, wastewater from a mine can include nitrates from blasting explosives, and heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium and copper. The Alliance is continuing to challenge the Rock Creek Mine operations through the courts. Murphy said the Alliance has filed three separate lawsuits; one against the Montana DEQ, and a second one against the USFWS, which the Alliance had filed and won the motion for summary judgment. The Alliance will file a third lawsuit shortly against the USFS in a challenge of their Record of Decision (ROD), said Murphy. The Montana DEQ issued an air permit, water permit and approved the Rock Creek Mine reclamation plan in approximately 2001, said Murphy. The USFS issued a ROD to approve the mine on December 26, 2001. In the effort to stop the development of the mine, the Alliance filed their first lawsuit against the USFW in 2002. Then, in response to this lawsuit, the USFW revoked their biological opinion. Eventually the USFS also revoked their ROD. However, in 2003, the USFW filed a new biological opinion, and the USFS filed a new ROD allowing the development of the Rock Creek Mine. Murphy further explained, the various biological opinions issued by the USFW over the past several years had ultimately said that the Rock Creek Mine operations would not jeopardize threatened species of wildlife in the Cabinet Mountains. “Montana is the permitting state,” said Murphy. “Though Idaho receives consequences of any depredation of the water quality; the state has no authority over the permitting process.” The Idaho DEQ asked for a cumulative impact study of the lake, the Rock Creek Mine did not provide it she said. “Our purpose is to protect the natural resources of northern Idaho and Montana,” said Albright. “State and federal agencies, groups like Avista, Tri State Water Council, and private individuals have spent a lot of money and effort in trying to get the rivers cleaner. Everything that goes into the Clark Fork River flows toward the Lake Pend Oreille. The lake is our point of attraction. We have such pristine water here. We do not want to take any chance.” “We get a lot of support in Sandpoint,” said Murphy. “I hope our gratitude comes through to Janusz, Gabel and all the artists. They are the shining stars.” Gabel said, “I am glad to participate because I definitely believe in what the Rock Creek Alliance is trying to accomplish.” Individuals interested in obtaining more information about the Rock Creek Alliance and the Art Works Gallery unveiling and reception, may contact Michelle Murphy at the Rock Creek Alliance administrative office in Sandpoint by emailing to Michelle Murphy or by telephone at 208-265-8272. © Copyright 2007 by RuralNorthwest.com |
