2018-04-23 Update with Ascot miningUpdate with Ascot mining
April 23, 2018
3:03 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Stamper, Mike McDonald
Guest: Jordan Naillon of The Chronicle
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Mike McDonald mourned the passing of Cy Meyers.
Mike discussed the recent finding of no significant impact. He said Ascot is awaiting a ruling from the
Bureau of Land Management and expects another finding of no significant impact around Memorial Day
weekend.
Mike said the project would be open for another public comment period after BLM’s findings are
released.
Mike said the Gifford Pinchot Task Force, which has rebranded itself as the Cascade Forest Conservatory,
had voiced concerns regarding noise. He said the noise is similar to the hum of a diesel engine and that
wildlife has merely been curious, not scared, by the noise.
Mike said the Forest Service and the BLM have been helpful regarding the core-sampling project.
Mike said Ascot would have to give a 30-day start-to-work notice after the closure of the public
comment period.
Mike said Ascot plans to drill 63 3-inch holes off 23 drill pads.
He said Ascot is dealing with Environmental Assessments now and would need to work on
Environmental Impacts in the future.
Mike said the project is actually in Skamania County but that the access is through Lewis County.
Mike said 20 people worked on the trail team. He said road work is contracted out to local companies.
Mike said Ascot drilled 11 holes 1,500 feet deep.
Commissioner Stamper discussed the benefits to local communities. Mike said Ascot already has spent
roughly $500,000 at the Morton Hardware Store.
Mike said 20 to 30 people are up there during the core sampling.
Mike said the area was a known mineral deposit back in the 1970s. He said the drill pads measure 5 by 5
by 1.
Mike said there would be a 20-person core-sampling team. He said the specialty team is roughly four
people and the rest are local hires.
Jordan asked about the Green River’s delineation as a wild steelhead gene bank. Mike said Ascot’s water
use is minimal.
Mike said the region wasn’t incorporated in the national monument area. Mike said the project will have
very minimal impact on the Green River.
Mike discussed various versions of mining, such as shaft mining, mountaintop mining and open pit
mining.
Mike said mining has really changed since the 1940s. He said these days it still would be extracted and
crushed but that reclamation efforts have improved dramatically. He said the company would be
required to post a bond that would then pay those reclamation costs were something to happen to the
company.
He gave the following timeline: five to 10 years of preparation work, 10 years of actual mining and then
three to five years of reclamation efforts.
Mike said the area being examined measures roughly 900 acres. He said the minerals sought include
copper, gold, silver and lithium.
Mike said Ascot has two projects in British Columbia: a gravel mine and a gold mine.
Meeting adjourned at 4:03 p.m.