The Dec. 5 Columbian story reported “Agency backs drilling near Mount St. Helens.” The U.S. Forest Service decision to allow an exploratory drilling project 12 miles from the crater of Mount St. Helens is very alarming. The Bureau of Land Management has the final say on the permit for Ascot Mining, and that ruling is expected any day. The proposed site is near the internationally renowned Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and actually enters the volcano’s blast zone. This kind of drilling could be devastating to the Green River and several recreational areas are within the proposed drilling area.
It may be too late to stop this permit from being issued, and it is a sad day to see that once more a drilling proposal may have a chance to move forward after being not allowed in the past.
You can still contact the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM to let them know you do not agree with their decision.
Greg Flakus
Vancouver
