Colvilles take new look at molybdenum mine
By Steve Jackson
Spokane Public Radio
Colville Confederated Tribes members are taking a new look at a mining project proposed for Mount Tolman that many consider to be a sacred site.
Back in the 1970s, the tribe entered into an agreement with a mining company that wanted to extract the metal Molybdenum, used to harden steel. Declining metal prices caused the company to back out of the agreement.
But with molybdenum prices on the rebound, the Colville Tribal Business Council now seeks an advisory vote from tribal members on revisiting the idea of an open pit mine.
They estimate such a mine could employ as many as 450 people, this in an area with a 40 percent unemployment rate. The vote is set for this Saturday.
Not everyone likes the Mount Tolman mine idea. Tribal member Sonny George cites the threat of mine waste getting into the nearby Columbia River.
“One of the things we’re trying to do now is have the mill up in Canada stop polluting the Columbia River, and here we are proposing to do the same thing ourselves,” says George.
George refers to a lawsuit filed by the tribe against Canadian firm Teck Cominco over pollution from its Trail, British Columbia smelter.
Tribal officials say they will not comment on the proposal until the vote has been certified on March 23rd.