High Country Citizens’ Alliance
is opposed to any mining operation on Mt. Emmons

We continue to base this position on our understanding of the local area and its citizens, our knowledge of the impacts of past mining activities in our area, and our research into the likely impacts of mining in the modern era. A new mining operation on Mt. Emmons would negatively affect the vibrant economic and social fabric of Crested Butte and the entire Gunnison Valley and would also have detrimental impacts to the air, water, agricultural, recreational, aesthetic and many other important aspects of our valley.

Kobex Resources heads back to Canada

Kobex Resources, a Vancouver B.C., Canada based corporation announced in a press release on March 31, 2008 that they were pulling out of an exploration and mine development partnership with U.S. Energy Corp. of Riverton, Wyoming. The two companies had proposed to develop a molybdenum mine on Mt Emmons, three miles west of Crested Butte, Colorado. The partnership between these two mineral speculators lasted less than 2 years and leaves U.S. Energy Corp. solely responsible for the mine property including ongoing and permanent water treatment from past water pollution at the site.

High Country Citizens’ Alliance has led local resistance against the Kobex/U.S. Energy mining proposal. Kobex Resources cited this intense resistance to their mining proposal as a primary reason for terminating their agreement with U.S. Energy.

High Country Citizens’ Alliance welcomes this departure of Kobex as a strong indication of how effective local efforts have been in stopping the development of a mine on Mt. Emmons. It is clear that Kobex Resources, and their highly experienced CEO Roman Shklanka, have made a wise decision to cut their losses here in Crested Butte. Other mineral operators should take note of this decision and understand that an investment in this property would be an attempt to force industrial mining in a location where residents of the Gunnison Valley clearly do not want this sort of development.

U.S. Energy Corp and Kobex Resources have failed to gain the support of local residents for the proposed mine. This failure led Kobex to pull out of the project and their decision is similar to the decision made four years ago by Phelps Dodge which has since indicated that the proximity of Mt. Emmons to the Town of Crested Butte and local opposition made development of the Emmons deposit unattractive.

Kobex Resources spent approximately 8 million dollars on mine permitting efforts from a budget of 29 million dollars they had attracted from investors. Kobex apparently made a determination based on the overwhelming community resistance and multiple layers of permitting that the cost of moving toward a permitted mine was simply too high to continue as a partner in the project.

Efforts to stop mine development are far from over. The threat of mine development is still very real and U.S. Energy Corp has significant financial resources and is likely to seek other means of continuing the permitting and development process. HCCA will continue to seek a permanent way of protecting Gunnison Valley watersheds from the impacts of a mining operation on Mt. Emmons.

HCCA now hopes to convince U.S. Energy to end the threat of unwanted mineral development above Crested Butte forever. HCCA believes that the executives of U.S. Energy Corp. will understand that it is in the best interests of their company to leave the mountains and water resources of the Upper Gunnison Valley in their present, high quality condition for future generations.

High Country Citizens' Alliance's Mission is to protect, restore and enhance the natural ecosystems and quality of human life in the Upper Gunnison River Basin and the Mountain West.

The Upper Gunnison River Basin is an exquisite area, replete with rugged peaks, pastoral valleys, and cool, clear high mountain streams. Since 1977, High Country Citizens' Alliance has been at work protecting these extraordinary natural areas. Conservation is at the root of all we do. Facing challenges large and small, we believe that integrity and cooperation are our best tools, enabling us to resolve many difficult issues over the years. Today, our programs range from preservation of our national forests, rangelands and water resources to land use palnning and fostering sustainable communities.

Jim Carrier, of the Denver Post, called High Country Citizens' Alliance "perhaps the most effective grassroots environmental group in the Rocky Mountains."

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Prayer flags flying with a snowy Mt. Emmons in the background.
(Photo courtesy of Mark Reaman)


Prayer Flags waving
In the wind.
Each one a prayer,
A dream.

Haiku by Bill Smith

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The Red Lady Prayer Flags are available now! Join our efforts to "paint the town red" and show our spirit of opposition to an industrial molybdenum mine on Mount Emmons!

The prayer flags were designed by locals Kent Cowherd, Bob Wojtalik, Lucille Lucas & Sarah Bartow, Angie Carroll and Debby Phelps. Each flag is inscribed with some of the 100-plus prayers submitted by members of the Community. They were printed in Nepal.

Each string of flags consists of five individual flags and is about 43" long. Tie two or more strings together to span a larger area.

Prayer flags are priced to be affordable: one or two strings for $12 each and three or more strings for $10 each. This price includes sales tax, but shipping is extra if you don't pick them up at the HCCA office. Cash or check only, please.

Prayer flags are available in Crested Butte at 418, Blue Moon Books, the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, Lucille Lucas Gallery, Mountain Earth, Pema Dawa, Pooh's Corner and Yoga for the People.

Or use our downloadable order form. Click here for a PDF order form

If you have questions, call Margot at the office (970-349-7104) or email margot@hccaonline.org

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If you are not already a member, you can join or make online donations to HCCA via your credit or bank card by clicking Network for Good link above!

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