NRDC Victory! Court Blocks Massive Mine in Northern Rockies

I am thrilled to report a momentous victory in our fight to protect grizzly
bears and other imperiled wildlife in the Yellowstone/Greater Rockies BioGem.
A federal district court has just rejected the Bush administration's approval
of a massive copper and silver mine that would have despoiled the Cabinet
Mountains Wilderness in northwestern Montana.

This landmark decision is the result of an all-out legal battle we waged in
partnership with Earthjustice and our other environmental allies. Last week the
court sided with us in ruling that the Rock Creek Mine would jeopardize the
survival of one of the last five grizzly bear populations in the lower 48
states, as well as threatened bull trout.

These grizzly bears have been driven from their historic range by clearcut
logging and rampant development, and have found their last refuge among the
soaring peaks and forested valleys of the Cabinet Mountains.

The Rock Creek Mine project would have allowed the Revett Silver Company to
tunnel 900 feet beneath the wilderness area, set off deafening explosions and
then extract 10,000 tons of copper and silver ore seven days a week for 35
years.

At the same time, the mining operation would have dumped three million gallons
of wastewater each day into the region's clear mountain rivers, where bull
trout spawn and rear their young. In approving this outrageous proposal, the
Bush administration demonstrated yet again its willingness to destroy our
public wildlands to please its industry allies.

Our court victory sends a clear message to the administration that we will not
surrender our last and greatest places without one heck of a fight. I want to
thank you again for taking online action to save the Yellowstone/Greater
Rockies region and the rest of our endangered BioGems.

Sincerely,
John H. Adams
President
Natural Resources Defense Council