Area should be made a 'no-damage' zone

Without the hard work from past Montanans to protect our best protected ground, we would be “The Big Nothing.” All that good work deserves respect. Reasons are not good enough to destroy the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness Area with two copper mines. Living in an area of few jobs cannot justify destroying our best ground. Lincoln and Sanders counties must protect, not destroy, their pristine high mountain jewels. The value of our state’s most special public lands protected extends far beyond any reason to harm them.

For 25 years, water quality experts have told me digging tunnels pollute valley waterways with a toxic brew. Three-fourths of the U.S. is having water troubles and Montana talks of poisoning theirs. Our EPA must stop these mines from becoming reality.

For more than 130 years, the monster Butte and Anaconda mines dumped their worst toxic waste directly into the Clark Fork River, making it awful; even more awful came the dams. The river was the world’s worst mine toxic polluted. I remember the thick gray goo with white dead fish floating on top of it. The mining industry has had enough of the Clark Fork. Montana, retire the river.

The 1872 mining law and wilderness act signed by President Ulysses S. Grant must be changed for the “now” times. The antiquated statue wants to create jobs where they can’t be. Montana thrives on protect, not destroy.

L.J. LaBELLE

Thompson Falls, Mont.