BY KAREN BOSSICK

Learn about the proposed Stibnite Gold Mine located 40 miles northeast of McCall on Wednesday.

The Idaho Conservation League will host a Science Pub about the mine located at the headwaters of the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, at The Elephant’s Perch.

Drinks will be available.

Lexi Black-Spalding, the community engagement associate for the ICL, said her organization is bringing the conversation to the Wood River Valley as ICL members believe it’s important for area residents to know about since so many valley residents have economic and personal ties to Salmon River Country.

ICL will discuss how the project near the town of Yellowpine violates the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. They contend the project could set a dangerous precedent as the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has been pushing the boundaries of environmental law to accommodate it. If DEQ's bad faith actions get a "pass" here, it could have consequences and embolden DEQ for any future mining project across the state, said Black-Spalding. 

“That’s not to mention the many other problems with the project, such as jeopardizing some of the best wolverine habitat in Idaho, or the risk to already fragile wild salmon populations, or the fact that it might spur a larger gold rush in the backcountry surrounding the Frank Church Wilderness,” she added.