A Risky Venture: a Mine at the Head of the West Fork of the Bitterroot River

By Bonny-Bleu Ramsey

US Critical Metals, a Canadian company, is eyeing rare earth element deposits in the Bitterroot River's headwaters. Rare earth element mines are notorious for producing toxic and radioactive waste and for excessive water consumption.

Please join Philip W. Ramsey, Ph.D. and Bonny-Bleu Ramsey for a discussion of how the mine would affect our river and the valley. This program will provide an overview of rare earth element mining and impacts to the valley’s economy. Better places to get rare earth elements in Montana will be discussed. The presentation will be about 30 minutes long followed by an open discussion. The talk will not be overly technical; no chemistry background needed!

Dr. Ramsey earned his Ph.D. working in the Clark Fork Superfund site, developing methods to quantify the damage caused by mines in the river’s headwaters. As a scientist with many years of experience working in a contaminated ecosystem Dr. Ramsey has firsthand knowledge of the risks associated with mining activities. Bonny-Bleu is Western Montana Realtor with deep roots in the West Fork and concerns about economic and environmental consequences of the mine.

Our meeting will be held at 7 pm on Monday, November 20th in the Education Building adjacent to the Slack Barn at Teller Wildlife Refuge at 1180 Chaffin Lane in Corvallis. 

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