Opposition challenges open-pit metal mining proposals
Residents of Aroostook County and environmental groups appeared on Monday before the Maine Legislature’s Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee to express opposition to any regulation changes that would allow large-scale, open-pit metal mining.
The Bangor Daily News reported that no large-scale metal mining has occurred in Maine since 1977, but that Bald Mountain, located in Aroostook County, is being eyed by several companies for its copper, gold and other metals.
Proposed regulations could allow this type of mining to start up again, the BDN reported, but not everyone speaking at Monday’s hearing was convinced that’s what’s best for the County.
“Initially, I thought mining might be an answer to the economic woes of our region,” Gail Maynard, an organic beef farmer from Woodland, testified. But, she said, “There is no job worthy of destroying Aroostook County as we know it.” The BDN reported that Maynard was one of 15 people who traveled to Augusta from The County to the hearing.
Patty Blackstone, co-owner of Circle B Farms in Caribou, said open-pit mining is bad for the environment and agriculture, due to toxic contaminants getting into irrigation water.
But Bob Dorsey, president of the Aroostook Partnership, an economic development group, said mining, in combination with strong regulations, would draw higher-paying jobs, additional tax revenues and spin-off investment.
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