Quarry Needs EIS

BOISE, Idaho – The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) needs to prepare an environmental impact statement on mining operations at the Three Rivers Stone Quarry near Clayton, Idaho, a federal district judge ruled on May 5.
The Challis Messenger also reports that U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill won’t act on any injunction soon against the existing operations or expansion of the L&W Stone Corp.’s quarry.
The BLM and the Western Watersheds Project (WWP), the environmental group seeking to stop expansion of the architectural-stone quarry, were also ordered to work together on a compromise, but that effort foundered.
Three years ago, L&W proposed expanding the quarry from 60 acres to 165.9 acres and submitted a revised plan of operations. The judge found that the BLM didn’t follow federal guidelines in its approval process of the expansion.
WWP filed suit in September 2004 challenging the BLM’s approval of the quarry expansion. The group also attempted to get restraining orders and injunctions to stop current quarry operations, but Judge Windmill denied the motions.
The judge asked L&W Stone and WWP to work out an agreement on how much quarrying should be allowed at Three Rivers. However, talks fell apart in early June over mining mitigation costs.
Judge Winmill will now consider three mining plans submitted by L&W Stone, the WWP and the BLM to develop his own orders on the case.