Protect Hot Creek, Stop KORE Mining

The US Forest Service is taking public comments on a proposed exploratory mining operation near the headwaters of Hot Creek in the Eastern Sierra that could lead to harmful open pit mining near this fishery. We need your help to stop it.

This project is problematic and disastrous in many ways:

1. KORE Mining wants to drill around Hot Creek for gold with no plan or guarantee that gold exists in that area. Dredging, excavation, and drilling with heavy equipment will cause dramatic stream degradation.
2. The proposal for the exploratory operation provides no information on how much water is needed, the depth of drilling, or the negative impact on the wildlife and the environment. If the operation is granted, it would have long-term ramifications for one of California’s iconic wild trout fisheries and for the wildlife surrounding the area.
3. The Hot Creek watershed is highly sensitive and has remnant impacts of historic mining and development in that area. 

How You Can Help

We need you to submit a public comment opposing this mining operation to Colleen Garcia with the US Forest Service. Deadline for public comment is May 7th May 13th (The USFS extended the deadline until May 13th). The link to submit comments and a sample letter are below.

We encourage you to demand an Environmental Impact Statement be conducted and share your personal comments and stories about why you wish to protect Hot Creek. Specifics are not necessary, any comment helps. Please share this action with your network. For more information visit our webpage.

CalTrout submitted the comment letter below on May 5, 2021.

Sample Letter:

Dear Colleen Garcia,

I strongly oppose the Long Valley Exploration Drilling Project proposed by Kore USA Ltd. (Kore Mining). The proposed mining project threatens the future of the scenic, economically and ecologically important Long Valley area in Mono County.
 
I am particularly concerned about the proposed project’s proximity to Hot Creek, one of the region’s iconic fisheries. Though this project is only exploratory for now, as a CalTrout supporter, I am all too aware of the grave impacts mining can have on fish and freshwater ecosystems. Mining operations can lead to sulfuric acid and heavy metal contamination when rainwater or surface drainage carries contaminants to nearby streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater harming species who rely on these water sources. Not only is this proposed project just above Hot Creek, but the water from Hot Creek eventually flows into Owens River and Crowley Lake, putting this entire ecosystem at risk. 
 
Right now, the need to restore ecosystems rather than degrade them is urgent. California is entering into another extreme drought, another extreme fire season, and is aiming to protect 30% of our lands by 2030. As such, it is completely inappropriate to approve projects like this that will only cause further risk to our natural resources. Therefore, I strongly oppose even the first exploratory step of this effort to ultimately mine for gold. At a minimum, a full EIS should be conducted in order to properly assess the full impacts and allow for meaningful public engagement.

Sincerely,

More Information:

• Concerned citizens have until May 13, 2021 to participate in the current 30-day public scoping period for the proposed Long Valley Exploration Drilling Project proposed by Kore USA Ltd. (Kore Mining).
• Proposed mining exploration threatens the future of the scenic, economically, and ecologically important Long Valley area in Mono County. Ground disturbing activities proposed consist of drilling with heavy equipment, the creation of fourteen drill pads and the use of existing roads and temporary access routes. The total new land disturbance anticipated is 0.93 acres. Project implementation would occur in the summer of 2021. Reclamation of all impacted areas would commence immediately following the completion of drilling activities. No production or mining would be included in this project. It would be for exploration only, to determine the mineral potential of the site. Any actual production proposed in the future would be analyzed according to National Environmental Policy Act guidelines at that time.
• Impacts of this proposed project include: local quality of life, tourism, air quality, noise pollution, decimated habitat of local flora and fauna (including endangered sage grouse and local deer). Kore Mining proposes to construct a total of fourteen drilling pads, measuring 30 feet by 50 feet each. Access to these drill pads will require re-opening roughly a third of a mile of road for the duration of the project.  The impacts of the exploration might be only the beginning, however. If the company finds a sufficient quantity of gold to mine, that activity could affect important habitats, create long-lasting water pollution issues, and forever scar Long Valley
• Kore Mining is interested in drilling the ground around Hot Creek to look for gold. Many rivers were excavated, dredged, and hydraulically mined for gold, causing dramatic stream degradation. Instream gravel mining also removed riparian vegetation and spawning gravels and degraded riparian habitats. Such mining is now largely banned, but lasting impacts remain in many areas.