Saturday, March 28, 2015

Chetco River mineral withdrawal | Saving a river and saving money for the taxpayer

Fishing the Chetco. Mickey Weir photo.
On August 1, 2011, a notice published in the Federal Register segregated 17 miles (5,610 acres) of the Wild and Scenic Chetco River from the 1872 Mining Law.

Less than four years later, the temporary Secretarial mineral withdrawal has saved a river, as well as saving the American taxpayer money. However, the job of protecting the cherished Chetco from mining is far from done.

While still dependent on the passage of legislation to become permanent, the Secretary of Interior's action on behalf of the Chetco River nonetheless demonstrates why mineral withdrawals are so important in protecting the public's interest in high value conservation lands (and rivers).