Reps. Salazar and Udall ask BLM and Forest Service to validate Mt. Emmons mining claim

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Salazar and Congressman Mark Udall officially requested the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service conduct a claim validity review on the unpatented mining and mill site claims associated with the Lucky Jack mine near Crested Butte. In a letter to Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest Supervisor Charles Richmond and U.S. Bureau of Land Management State Director Sally Wisely, Congressmen Udall and Salazar outlined their goal for the validity review request:

“It is our belief, one we hope you share, that a comprehensive validity review of the unpatented Lucky Jack mining project claims will help prevent unnecessary watershed disruption and the costly expenditure of federal, state and private sector funds,” stated Reps. Salazar and Udall. A PDF of the letter is attached.

The Lucky Jack Mining project, as proposed, would operate in close proximity to the headwaters of the Upper Gunnison River Basin. Due to the potential impact to the watershed of Crested Butte, Gunnison and other regional municipalities, Congressmen Salazar and Udall see the need to verify the unpatented mining and mill site claims associated with the proposed project.

“One of my most important responsibilities is to help make sure that the water we all drink and use to irrigate our fields is not causing us harm,” said Congressman Salazar.

“Coloradans know that our lifeblood in the West is water.," said Udall. "We need for the BLM to meet its responsibility to protect this vital watershed.”

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	For immediate release: June 25, 2008
	Contact: Eric Wortman (Salazar) 202-225-4761 Heather Fox (Udall) 202-225-2161
	Reps. Salazar and Udall ask BLM and Forest Service to validate Mt. Emmons mining claim
	WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Salazar and Congressman Mark Udall officially requested the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service conduct a claim validity review on the unpatented mining and mill site claims associated with the Lucky Jack mine near Crested Butte. In a letter to Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest Supervisor Charles Richmond and U.S. Bureau of Land Management State Director Sally Wisely, Congressmen Udall and Salazar outlined their goal for the validity review request: “It is our belief, one we hope you share, that a comprehensive validity review of the unpatented Lucky Jack mining project claims will help prevent unnecessary watershed disruption and the costly expenditure of federal, state and private sector funds,” stated Reps. Salazar and Udall. A PDF of the letter is attached. The Lucky Jack Mining project, as proposed, would operate in close proximity to the headwaters of the Upper Gunnison River Basin. Due to the potential impact to the watershed of Crested Butte, Gunnison and other regional municipalities, Congressmen Salazar and Udall see the need to verify the unpatented mining and mill site claims associated with the proposed project. “One of my most important responsibilities is to help make sure that the water we all drink and use to irrigate our fields is not causing us harm,” said Congressman Salazar. “Coloradans know that our lifeblood in the West is water.," said Udall. "We need for the BLM to meet its responsibility to protect this vital watershed.”
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