Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Can “responsible mining” happen in the West?
------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, February 13, 2023
The Chemetall Foote Lithium Operation in Clayton Valley, Nevada. Photo: Doc Searls, Wikimedia Commons ([link removed])

As the world looks for more sources of minerals like lithium and cobalt to power the transition away from fossil fuels, mining companies like to claim they have cleaned up their act and won't repeat the past that left the American West covered in toxic abandoned mines. But there's no agreement on what makes for "responsible mining" in the modern era—yet.

In his indispensable Land Desk newsletter, journalist Jonathan Thompson looks at one effort underway ([link removed]) . The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance ([link removed]) , or IRMA, was driven by businesses that want to know they're buying responsibly-mined minerals, along the lines of the way the Marine Stewardship Council provides independent certification of fisheries.

IRMA's standards ([link removed]) include 40 non-negotiable requirements, including getting consent from the community. IRMA doesn't score thermal coal mines, since burning any more coal is fundamentally irresponsible. Similarly, IRMA standards don't include uranium mining. “There are too many ‘risk points’ between cradle and grave,” explains IRMA executive director Aimee Boulanger ([link removed]) .

Once a mine meets IRMA's base requirements, it's audited and given a score based on how many additional standards it meets. So far, IRMA lists two mines with completed audits ([link removed]) and eleven more with audits underway ([link removed]) —none of which are in the United States. IRMA says 56 sites are conducting self-assessments under its standard, which is the first step before an independent audit.

CWP's podcast, The Landscape, also looks at the potential for mining reform ([link removed]) in the second episode of our two-part series on critical minerals. In the latest episode, Aaron and Kate are joined by Aaron Mintzes, senior policy council at Earthworks, and Roger Flynn, the director and managing attorney at Western Mining Action Project who also teaches at the University of Colorado law school. Aaron and Roger lay out the case for updating the 150-year-old law that still governs hard rock mining in the West.
Quick hits


** As feds push solar, Nature Conservancy maps areas of least harm to wildlife
------------------------------------------------------------

Wyofile ([link removed])


** Solar slow to take hold in Wyoming despite national boom
------------------------------------------------------------

Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed])


** Idaho politicians go full NIMBY on wind farm proposal
------------------------------------------------------------

Boise State Public Radio ([link removed])


** Former BLM director and state land commissioner: BLM must lead, prioritize meaningful conservation
------------------------------------------------------------

Albuquerque Journal ([link removed])


** Foundation for America's Public Lands promises hope for BLM funding needs
------------------------------------------------------------

National Association of Counties ([link removed])


** On the road to healing, Tribal citizens speak out about boarding school trauma and abuse
------------------------------------------------------------

NPR ([link removed])


** Study: States, federal agencies need to reach cooperative goals on wolves
------------------------------------------------------------

National Parks Traveler ([link removed]) | High Country News ([link removed])


** Tasty meal or plastic decoy? Desert reserve studies raven attacks in southern Utah
------------------------------------------------------------

St. George News ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” In New Mexico alone there are nearly 350,000 acres of BLM-managed lands the agency agrees are largely undisturbed and have wilderness values. Across the West that figure climbs to roughly 28 million acres of wilderness-ready public lands.

Places New Mexicans cherish like Cerro de la Olla and Otero Mesa can, and should, be conserved as Wilderness Study Areas.

There is no time to waste.”
—Former Bureau of Land Management director Jim Baca, Albuquerque Journal ([link removed])
Picture this


** @usfws ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
Valentine’s Day is around the corner! Here’s a card for every occasion 😃💘.

Praying mantis by Mallory Fischer/USFWS

============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
Copyright © 2023 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.

Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])