| Friends of Bodie | Winter 1992 |
The Mining Issue
| Most of you are aware of the controversy over the renewed
mining interest in the historic mining district of Bodie and the potential of
open pit mining. It all started in 1988 when Galactic Resources Ltd. from
Canada began exploratory work on 550 acres of private mining claims adjacent to
the east boundary of the State Park, and claimed 47 square miles surrounding
Bodie. The California Department of Parks and Recreation listed concerns about
the potential mining which included damage to aesthetics by major landform
modifications and generation of dust and noise, loss or removal of historic
structures in area of potential mining, and physical damage to buildings in the
State Park from blasting activities. Since then, much and very little has
happened. During the fall of 1990, Mono County determined that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) had to be completed before Galactic could continue their exploratory work on private property. State Joint Resolution 60, which was introduced by State Senator Dan McCorquodale, also passed. It asked the Federal Government to withdraw public lands surrounding Bodie from mining activities. During 1991, the Bureau of Land Management completed their Resources Management Plan for the Bodie Hills area. In this plan it was proposed that land, mainly to the west of Bodie, be withdrawn from mining activity (see map). Many feel that this was inadequate for the protection of Bodie. The National Park Service completed their draft of the proposed boundary for the Bodie National Historic Landmark which was not determined when Bodie was given National Historic Landmark status back in 1961 (see map). During 1992, U.S. Congressman Richard Lehman introduced House Resolution 4370 calling for the withdrawal of federal public lands around Bodie, that do no currently have valid mining claims, from mining activities. HR 4370 passed in Legislature but died in the Senate; it is likely that it will be reintroduced in |
1993. Galactic is
considering selling their Bodie property, or getting a new partner for a joint
operation, after problems with a cyanide leak at their Summitville Mine in
Colorado, and pending costly cleanup. The State has been negotiating with
Galactic to purchase the lease on the property, but the State does not have
much purchasing power right now. The draft EIR for Galactic's exploratory work
has been completed. It still needs to go through the public review process. As you can see the controversy is still active and churning away, but at the surface it appears that not a whole lot has changed. Bodie is still just as susceptible to mining as it was three years ago, although, potential mining has not come much closer to reality either. |
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