Bill protects Methow Headwaters from future mining Permanent protection from mining for the upper Methow Valley is only a presidential signature away from reality. The Methow Headwaters Protection Act, which would ban mining on approximately 531 square miles of U.S. Forest Service land in rugged mountains surrounding Mazama, was included in the legislative package of […]
Mining
Public meeting set on Methow Headwaters mining withdrawal
A public meeting is set for Nov. 13 in Winthrop on a proposal to prevent future mining on 340,079 acres in the upper Methow Valley.
A new public comment period is also open until Nov. 13 on a proposed mineral withdrawal, which would protect the U.S. Forest Service land from mining for up to 20 years. The public meeting and comment period are among the final steps required for the withdrawal, which must get final approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Federal official’s visit boosts Headwaters Campaign’s efforts
A key decision-maker in a process that would protect the upper Methow Valley from mining visited the valley last week to get a first-hand look at the land that is proposed for protection, and to hear about its value to the Methow Valley.
Joe Balash, assistant secretary for lands …
Newhouse makes strong push for headwaters protection
Several key steps must be accomplished in the next 10 months if 342,079 acres of Forest Service land at the headwaters of the Methow River is to gain protection from future mining.
The Methow Headwaters campaign, a local grassroots organization, has worked for the past two …
Methow delegation in D.C. to promote Headwaters protection
Advocating for protection of the upper Methow Valley from future mining, a three-person delegation from the valley traveled to Washington, D. C., last week to meet with Congressional representatives and federal agency officials.
The goal of the trip was to push for progress on a …
Methow Headwaters protection from mining included in federal legislation
By Ann McCreary Federal legislation aimed at protecting more than 340,000 acres in the upper Methow Valley has been included as part of a larger bill called the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017. The Energy and Natural Resources Act, introduced last week by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, […]
Dates not set for public comment on Methow Headwaters mining
No dates have been announced yet for a new public comment period on a proposal to withdraw more than 340,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in the upper Methow Valley from future mining.
An initial 90-day comment …
Bill reintroduced to protect Methow headwaters from mining
A bill that would permanently withdraw more than 340,000 acres in the headwaters of the Methow River from mining and new mineral exploration was re-introduced in the U.S. Senate last week.
Washington senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell reintroduced the Methow Headwaters Protection Act on …
Documentary film is new tool in Headwaters Campaign’s efforts
Group continues push to protect USFS land from mining By Ann McCreary One year ago the Methow Headwaters Campaign launched an initiative to protect more than 340,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in the upper Methow Valley from future mining. On Sunday (Feb. 19), the Headwaters Campaign released a new short documentary about the […]
Winthrop Chamber of Commerce supports mining restrictions in upper Methow Valley
The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce is supporting protection of more than 340,000 acres of U. S. Forest Service land in the upper Methow Valley from future mining. The chamber has passed a resolution of support for a 20-year mineral withdrawal, which would prevent mining activities on federal land in the upper valley during that period. […]