Congratulations Park County!

The Forest Service estimates that it received more than three thousand public comments in response to exploratory drilling on Emigrant Peak.

In just a few short weeks we were able to raise the profile of Lucky Mineral’s proposal to garner opposition at the local, regional and national level. Many of you have taken the extra step of calling your elected officials and speaking to your neighbors. This is exactly the type of grassroots mobilization that will prevent mining in the Paradise Valley. Thank you!

Our community is not valuable because of ore buried beneath its surface, but invaluable because it is a healthy thriving ecosystem — home to grizzly bears and cutthroat trout, Yellowstone National Park, the AB Wilderness, Chico Hot Springs and a vibrant community that depends on this ecosystem. This is Paradise.

Now we have to continue to educate our local, state and federal elected officials about why mining should never take place here. Our goal moving forward is to continue to educate our community about this issue and to build strong non-partisan political opposition to this mine. A colleague at Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation put it well:

“THIS issue is one devoid of politics; philosophy or “right or left”. It is a simple of matter of “right”, or “wrong”. We all agree it would simply be “wrong” for anyone to develop that area of OUR heaven, into some open pit gold mining commercial operation.”

We are moving forward with a strong coalition of groups and community members that oppose drilling on Emigrant Peak. Local artist, Parks Reece, has offered to design art for a campaign poster. I am inspired by our community and how we can and will come together.

Thank you for all that you have done already. Keep in touch. We plan to hold additional public meetings in the valley, including Gardiner, soon. If you can donate your time on this important project, please contact me. You can reach me on my cell at 406-223-4714 or by email at michelle@envirocouncil.org We are also seeking financial support for this effort and any contributions are greatly appreciated. You can make contributions through our website at www.envirocouncil.org, or click here to donate now.

And don’t forget to like us on Facebook to receive daily updates on PCEC work and this issue.

Sincerely,
Michelle Uberuaga