RESPONSE TO SMOKY CANYON

The deadline for comments on the proposed expansion of Smoky Canyon mine expired at the end of December. Partnership members submitted over 350 comments. Add these to others who commented across the country and we had over 48,000 responses on the proposal asking for additional clean up before allowing the expansion.

This type of response is tough to ignore. The agencies like to say this is not a vote, but it proves that many thousands of people care about the clean water and the future health of Caribou Country. To ignore such comments would be careless public land management.

In addition to comments from individual members, the Partnership also signed on to official comments prepared by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. These comments included 500 pages of new science and experts' opinions on the proposed mine and its effects.

The agencies have indicated that a Record of Decision will be issued sometime between March and April. We hope they will do the right thing and deny approval, but we are preparing to appeal and contest a wrong decision.

IDAHO ROADLESS PETITION

The State of Idaho is petitioning the Bush administration to create its own Roadless protections for areas currently protected by the Clinton Roadless Rule. Idaho's plan would open up hundreds of thousands of acres to additional roads and development.

At greatest risk are the Roadless Areas in the phosphate zone of eastern Idaho. Almost all Roadless protection would disappear, opening phosphate access into critical wildlife habitat and areas that provide clean water resources.

The Caribou Clean Water Partnership is actively working to fight the Idaho petition and ensure greater protection of critical roadless sections of our public lands and forests.

Brad and Lara Lovett are great assets to Caribou Clean Water Partnership, helping out in various ways in the Star Valley area.

"We've lived here for four years and were totally unaware that there was any mining in Star Valley at all, no less a Superfund site. Through the education and outreach efforts, I've learned of the effects of phosphate mining and I am alarmed at how unchecked selenium pollution can directly affect the lives and activities of me and my family."--Lara Lovett

"As an angler, I was really shocked to learn about the selenium contamination through the outreach programs. Paper mills and coal mines back east have ruined a lot the streams, but I've seen things turn around there through the work of organizations like this, and I'm optimistic that the same changes can be made here too. I honestly doubt I would have ever been made aware of the selenium contamination without your program, or probably would have learned about it after it was tragically too late. This is something I feel strongly about and I've been happy to inform my friends. It's great and important work and so many feel passionately about protecting where we live and work and fish(!) It can be something like living in an informational black hole sometimes, but there's great info from the Partnership through community events, literature, the website, and through personal contact. I'm not the type of guy who writes letters in support of protest often, but working with the Caribou Clean Water Partnership has made it a lot easier, helping to let us know who (and how) to contact, and just knowing that we're not the only ones writing a letter." --Brad Lovett

Star Valley partners continue to make a difference in the quest for clean water. Now is the time to get involved and join this remarkable effort.

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