[MtnGoat]

We don't judge wether to build airplanes based on the technology used in 1909. We don't judge bridges or buildings on technology or practices extant only in 1783. Why would you judge modern mining by the blatantly insupportable extraction techniques of the past? All modern projects require bonding for cleanup, as well they should. I'd prefer to think opposition to producing what we *all* use every day is based upon the easily correctable mistake of judging modern activity by flawed past practices, instead of hypocritical opposition to production of the basis of what someone is using right here, to argue against it.

[gb]

2015 Gold King Mine Disaster regarding a gold mine mine closed in 1991 which destroyed the Animas river-shed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Gold_King_Mine_waste_water_spill Do you really think that any bond would mitigate the damage from this spill? What is the cost of this spill? What are the toxic metals that will cause risk in the Methow? Who will be responsible for preventing their release into the Methow decades or perhaps even a century after the mine is abandoned?

[gb]

Berkely Pit, Butte Montana? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Pit Who pays for this? How do you find a company to hold responsible 35 years after mine closure? What will the cost be? Would a bond cover this? What is the cost and mitigation of drainage or worse into the Methow?

[MtnGoat]

[gb]

[gb]

Current status: https://www.methowheadwaters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Headwaters-BLM-Public-Meeting_Press-Release_111418.pdf