A proposed mine near one of Washington's most iconic landscapes is raising alarm among conservationists. The project would sit on the edge of Mount St. Helens, and environmental advocates say they are watching it closely.
At the center is a mineral deposit. A Canadian company has indicated that it is interested in developing the Mount Margaret deposit, which directly borders the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
The Cascade Forest Conservancy is among the groups sounding the alarm. Its policy director, Ashley Short, said the organization is tracking the proposal and staying in communication with the agencies involved.
A big part of the concern is uncertainty. Short said there have been so many changes to the process that it is genuinely unclear how quickly a mine could be greenlit or built, and whether the public will get a meaningful chance to weigh in.
Normally, such proposals come with a public process. The group notes that projects like this usually include public forums and comment periods, and it wants to make sure that opportunity is not lost.
The conservancy is calling on residents to get involved. It is asking people to stay informed, join its mailing list, and be ready to voice their concerns when the chance to comment arrives.
The location is what makes the proposal so sensitive. A mine bordering a protected national volcanic monument touches on questions of conservation, recreation and land use that reach well beyond the immediate community.