HCN reported that “the first major test of the
stricter mining trust fund standards established during the Clinton
administration has been a flop” (HCN, 12/20/04: Followup). This is
in reference to a recent BLM decision relating to the Phoenix Mine
project near Battle Mountain, Nev.
In fact, Newmont is
being held to the highest standard ever applied by the BLM to a
mining project. Concurrent reclamation will occur during mining to
mitigate any documented impact from mining activity. Monitoring
will occur throughout the life of this project and even after
mining activity is completed to determine whether the models we
used in our analysis reflect actual events. If our monitoring
indicates that additional mitigation is required, we are prepared,
and will have access to private funding sources to pay for these
actions.
I am proud of the work the BLM employees perform
to ensure that the public’s lands are managed in compliance
with applicable laws and consistent with land-use plans. We take
our jobs seriously and work hard to maintain the public’s
trust. I am disappointed that HCN does not apply those same
principles to reporting.
Bob
Abbey,
Bureau of Land Management
Reno, Nevada
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Cleanup effort is no ‘flop’.
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