Stibnite Gold Mine Plan Fails To Address Concerns About Toxic Mine Pollution In Salmon River Headwaters

The planned open-pit cyanide vat leach gold mine in Idaho’s Salmon River Mountains would jeopardize public health and clean water, harm threatened species, violate Indigenous treaty rights, and permanently scar thousands of acres of public land in the headwaters of the South Fork Salmon River, a coalition of local and national conservation groups said. 

The FEIS and DROD outline the Forest Service’s decision to authorize the 2021 Modified Mine Plan, initially presented in the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement 2022. The Modified Mine Plan doubles the size of the existing disturbance to 3,265 acres and would excavate three open-pit mines. The proposed Yellow Pine pit would extend more than 700 feet beneath the riverbed of the East Fork South Fork Salmon River, requiring the river to be rerouted through a concrete tunnel during mining activities until the pit is eventually backfilled with mine waste. 

The project also requires constructing an industrial ore-processing facility, burying pristine bull trout habitat beneath 100 million tons of toxic mine tailings, building miles of new access roads and electrical transmission lines through inventoried roadless areas, and providing on-site housing and services for hundreds of workers.

The South Fork Salmon watershed is a cornerstone of efforts to restore threatened Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and bull trout. The Forest Service says the South Fork Salmon River contains the “most important remaining habitat for summer chinook salmon in the Columbia River basin.” Immediately downstream of the mine site, the South Fork Salmon River also provides world-class recreational opportunities for whitewater paddlers and anglers alike, whose access and experience will undoubtedly be diminished by the proposed project. 

By the State of Idaho’s calculations, operations at the proposed mine will also emit millions of pounds of arsenic-laden dust per year, posing additional environmental and human health risks for anyone recreating near or traveling through the mine site. Several coalition groups continue to appeal for the mine’s air and water pollution permit to properly address dust, arsenic emissions, and water quality impacts. 

Following the 45-day objection window, the Forest Service will evaluate submitted objections and begin a formal resolution process between objectors and the Reviewing Officer. Following this process, the Forest Service will release a Final Record of Decision for the project, including any modifications made based on objection resolutions.