CuMo Mine: What Could One of the World's Largest Open-Pit Mines Mean for Idaho?

What exactly is the proposed CuMo Mine, and what could a project of this scale mean for Boise County, the Boise River watershed and the Treasure Valley?

On this episode of The Great Idaho Show: The Heart and Mind of Idaho, Dylan Stocker sits down with Sydney Luvaas, Mining and Policy Manager for Idaho Rivers United, for an in-depth conversation about the CuMo project in the headwaters of the Boise River watershed.

The project is currently in the exploration phase, but the potential mine being discussed would operate on an enormous scale. Dylan and Sydney examine what that could mean for water, roads, rural communities, taxpayers and future generations of Idahoans.

They discuss the proposed open pit and tailings facilities, water quality and acid mine drainage, transportation and road impacts in Boise County, the economic boom-and-bust cycle associated with large mining projects, foreign investment and corporate ownership, the 1872 Mining Law, reclamation bonding, baseline water testing, and the role of local government.

They also address the other side of the issue: America's need for domestic sources of copper, molybdenum and other strategically important minerals.

The question isn't simply whether America should mine.

It's where, how, at what scale, and with what protections for the communities and water resources that could be affected.

Sydney also explains why she believes Boise County residents and local officials should become involved now, during exploration, rather than waiting until a full mine proposal reaches the public-comment stage.

Learn more about Idaho Rivers United at IdahoRivers.org.

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