COMMENTARY — Idaho act sets standard for wildlife conservation

Mining companies in central Idaho’s Lemhi Cty. helped negotiate, and recently signed, a historic, multi-party agreement to protect stream-side habitats for the area’s endangered species.

Working in conjunction with government agencies at the federal, state and local levels, as well as with ranchers, loggers, environmentalists and community groups, mining interests negotiated the deal in an attempt to improve environmental practices while reducing regulatory delays. Current application of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been both costly and time-consuming. The Lemhi Cty. Riparian Habitat Conservation Agreement, as the new act is called, will help solve those problems.

The practice of studying, on an individual basis, species of animals, insects or plants for the purpose of protecting their habitats has, under the current guidelines of the ESA, led to time-consuming and inefficient bureaucracy. As new creatures are added to an ever-expanding list, new paperwork and studies are required to assess each creature’s eligibility under section 7 of the ESA.

Currently, species that occupy the same habitat as those already listed require new studies. Not only are these studies redundant; they often cause undue delays for mineral projects.

Under the new conservation agreement in place in Lemhi Cty., entire habitats there, including animal and plant species, will be taken into consideration at the outset.

FMC Gold, Formation Capital Corporation and other mineral companies in the area have dedicated themselves to this comprehensive approach, which involves consideration of ecosystems. These companies are involved in the process prior to the identification of environmental concerns by the government, and, as a result, have avoided many of the pitfalls of permitting. This latest agreement will further streamline the procedure of obtaining permits and mitigation for mineral operations.

Too often in the past, the mining industry has reacted impetuously to the environmental concerns of the public. These reactions have usually taken the form of projects aimed at cleaning up past mistakes. Mitigation for mining projects has often involved the scooping up of the last teaspoon of sediment, or the removal of the last particle of copper from the water, at a cost higher than any environmental benefit. By planning to be involved in the preservation of an ecosystem in the early stages of mineral development, companies can focus on where the environment needs the most help. This approach generates goodwill both locally and with the public at large, while generating maximum monetary return for the project’s environmental investment.

Local participants who helped develop the new agreement, an effort which spanned two years, agree that mining companies play a crucial role in the process. In the rural settings where companies operate, miners are often the source of expertise on water quality, land reclamation, and even wildlife.

Operators of mining projects are, in effect, a major asset in planning.

Federal and state agencies need such expertise in order to carry out their functions in these times of government cutbacks. The overall cost of supplying company personnel and equipment is tiny compared with the revenue lost to the delay of a project.

If this new effort improves the public’s perception of miners and reduces delays, the economic performance of mining companies will be vastly improved.

Simply put, involvement in the planning of major government environmental initiatives, from the beginning, can boost profits.

It is gratifying to conduct work that saves a salmon run; it is even more gratifying if that work improves a project’s rate of return.

— The author is the chief geologist of Formation Capital.