This local farmer notes that when the mine fails in their testing, poisoned water will go through canals and reservoirs. There are many other local ranches and farms relying on this water.
This letter to the editor was originally published in The Union.
Are there many problems with Rise Gold's proposed reopening of the Idaho Maryland Mine? Yes there are! My main concern as a Nevada County farmer is the pumping of millions of gallons of water out of the mine for the next 80 years.
Rise Gold will be responsible for testing the purity of the water they pump. When the mine fails in their testing, this poisoned water will go through (NID's) Nevada Irrigation Districts canals and reservoirs. This is the water I have farmed with for 37 years. There are many other local ranches and farms relying on this water.
Who will be held liable? The Canadian mining company, NID, Nevada County, me the farmer or you the rancher?
We don't need this problem and it should not be allowed to happen.
The county should deny the Idaho-Maryland Mine project and should not certify this flawed Final Environmental Impact Report.
Mike Pasner Indian Springs Organic Farm