By Ann McCreary
The Canadian mining company that plans exploratory drilling for copper on U.S. Forest Service land in Mazama said it expects to receive the required permit in the first quarter of 2015, a prediction that is “overly optimistic,” according to a Forest Service official.
Flagg Mountain
Judge rules Flagg Mountain cabin should be removed
By Don Nelson
Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Chris Culp ruled last Wednesday (Oct. 15) that the so-called “hanging hut” built on Flagg Mountain near Mazama violates property covenants meant to protect views from the valley floor, and that “removal of the hut from its current location …
Fires delay Flagg Mountain copper explorations proposal
By Ann McCreary
A decision on whether to permit exploratory drilling for copper in Mazama has been delayed by wildfires and floods that have consumed the attention and resources of Methow Valley Ranger District officials.
Ranger Michael Liu said in late June that he was waiting for the result of a groundwater analysis to determine whether additional studies would be necessary to move ahead on a request to drill exploratory holes on Forest Service land near Flagg Mountain.
Flagg Mountain cabin legal dispute awaits judge’s ruling
The trial over the legality of a small cabin built atop Flagg Mountain in Mazama concluded last week with oral closing arguments and a visit to the cabin site by Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Chris Culp, who is expected to make a ruling in October. Attorney David Bricklin, who is representing the plaintiffs in […]
Flagg Mountain cabin trial continues this week
The trial over the legality of a small cabin built atop Flagg Mountain in 2012 is running longer than originally expected, and was continuing this week in Okanogan County Superior Court before Judge Chris Culp. The trial was scheduled to last four days last week, but observers and interested parties said they expected that at […]
News briefs: August 6
This week: Flagg Mountain cabin case goes to trial, and Head for the Stampede
Groundwater impacts of copper exploration studied
By Ann McCreary
The Methow Ranger District is waiting for results of a preliminary analysis of potential effects to groundwater to determine whether …
Flagg Mountain cabin case back in Superior Court next week
By Don Nelson
The legal dispute over a small cabin built atop Flagg Mountain near Mazama resumes Tuesday (July 8), when a pre-trial …
Lack of funding may stymie USFS analysis of Mazama copper-drilling proposal
By Ann McCreary
Without additional funding, required environmental analysis of the proposed Mazama copper-drilling project won’t be completed in time for drilling to get underway this year, Methow Valley District Ranger …
Copper drilling proposal gets a grilling at public meeting
By Ann McCreary
In his five years as Methow Valley District Ranger, Mike Liu said he has not seen an issue that has generated as much interest as the proposed exploratory drilling …
