Mining company withdraws
Great news for Crested Butte Realty! Yesterday, we in Crested Butte got the news that Thompson Creek Metal Company, Inc has Tentatively withdrawn its agreement with US Energy Corp. to mine Mt. Emmons (aka red Lady) for molybdenum. I think most locals were very excited about this news, as although it would greatly increase local jobs, the threat to our outdoor lifestyle would be threatened too severely by a mining operation so close to town. One of my biggest concerns was the effect the mine could potentially have on our fragile ecosystem, and more specifically, our water supply.
My understanding of the situation is that although US Energy (a relatively small company) could still partner with a larger entity and a mine could be a threat to Crested Butte. But now the likelihood of that happening is greatly diminished. One of the reasons for my being skeptical about another operator is the past 3 failed attempts to get this highly controversial mining operation welcomed by the local townspeople. Seeing other mining operation as one drives throughout the state, one appreciates the lack of one in our part of the state. I just drove through Somerset yesterday, the site of a large coal mining operation, just 30 some miles from Crested Butte. Watching the endless number of train cars waiting to be filled with coal, and then snaking through Glenwood Canyon on the way elsewhere is somewhat awe inspiring. Viewing the enormous piles of coal waiting to be loaded on more train cars makes one wonder about the reality of similar amounts of molybdenum through our little town, and how that would have effected our lives. It's nice to now not have to consider this, and I am happy that Crested Butte will retain its status as one of the most beautiful parts of Colorado without a mine.
As a real estate agent, I think the news is especially good. If people were hesitating to buy property in and around Crested Butte due to the threat of a mine, it's no longer an issue. We won't be having exploratory drilling accompanied by the constant whir of helicopter rotors this summer, or now hopefully ever. Our water supply, though never officially threatened, will not be actually threatened. And as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, we will keep from becoming the Molybdenum Tailings Capital of Colorado.
Great news for Crested Butte Realty! Yesterday, we in Crested Butte got the news that Thompson Creek Metal Company, Inc has Tentatively withdrawn its agreement with US Energy Corp. to mine Mt. Emmons (aka red Lady) for molybdenum. I think most locals were very excited about this news, as although it would greatly increase local jobs, the threat to our outdoor lifestyle would be threatened too severely by a mining operation so close to town. One of my biggest concerns was the effect the mine could potentially have on our fragile ecosystem, and more specifically, our water supply.
My understanding of the situation is that although US Energy (a relatively small company) could still partner with a larger entity and a mine could be a threat to Crested Butte. But now the likelihood of that happening is greatly diminished. One of the reasons for my being skeptical about another operator is the past 3 failed attempts to get this highly controversial mining operation welcomed by the local townspeople. Seeing other mining operation as one drives throughout the state, one appreciates the lack of one in our part of the state. I just drove through Somerset yesterday, the site of a large coal mining operation, just 30 some miles from Crested Butte. Watching the endless number of train cars waiting to be filled with coal, and then snaking through Glenwood Canyon on the way elsewhere is somewhat awe inspiring. Viewing the enormous piles of coal waiting to be loaded on more train cars makes one wonder about the reality of similar amounts of molybdenum through our little town, and how that would have effected our lives. It's nice to now not have to consider this, and I am happy that Crested Butte will retain its status as one of the most beautiful parts of Colorado without a mine.
As a real estate agent, I think the news is especially good. If people were hesitating to buy property in and around Crested Butte due to the threat of a mine, it's no longer an issue. We won't be having exploratory drilling accompanied by the constant whir of helicopter rotors this summer, or now hopefully ever. Our water supply, though never officially threatened, will not be actually threatened. And as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, we will keep from becoming the Molybdenum Tailings Capital of Colorado.
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