Protect the Clark Fork river

Are there really people out there who want to tear into the side of the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness Area? This is a spectacular place - nonstop beautiful in every direction. It has always been protected for all of us.

The value of the minerals locked under the ground is a pittance compared to the value of protecting this irreplaceable wilderness area.

Are you going to let this area be ruined by a few, or protected for us all? Consider the past horrible abuse of the Clark Fork River. Doesn't our common sense click in about now and say 'enough is enough?'

The river deserves to be protected forever. Never a Rock Creek Mine, never a polluting coal burning co-generation plant, and no gas stations built on its shores.

The 200 percent increase in traffic that would be created by the proposed mine all concentrated on Highway 200 and Highway 56 would slaughter one of the most diversified wildlife populations in the lower 48 states.

The proposal calls for a truck delivery every seven minutes to the Hereford Railroad Siding 24 hours daily for at least 40 years.

Add to that employee vehicles and other supply trucks and you have nonstop truck traffic for the rest of most of our lives.

The proposed mine would scare the tourists away, which would affect many local businesses. Shouldn't all the folks who enjoy fishing on the Clark Fork be a lot more concerned about protecting water quality?

Do the abundant amount of hunting guides in our area really believe the proposed mine with the non-stop negative impacts will not drive their customers away?

A zero reaction from you is holding the door open for the proposed mine. Your water, air, and countryside will become polluted if you don't react now. Nothing is more important than preserving water quality.

The outdated mining law should no longer be acknowledged. Too much has changed since its inception over 130 years ago.

Two choices are available to all of us. Let "them" in to ruin everything you value, or keep "them" out. Please help protect your tired river.

Lon LaBelle

Noxon