Mining and the Environment

After reading about the Rosemont Mine and the lack of clarity in legislation aimed towards its creation, I am left with many critical concerns for the well-being of both tribal members and surrounding ecosystems. First, I am not surprised by the blatant lack of inclusion of tribal members in the legislation process, not to mention the exclusion of EPA itself. As an expert on environmental qualities, EPA should be expected to be included in all opinions surrounding the establishment of a mine. Secondly, these articles only further show the trend of deception when it comes to taking into account the opinions and research of tribal members. It struck me to read that the final EIS only referred to the desecration of sacred sites as "notable," when it is clear that the entire culture and environment will be negatively impacted. It seems ironic to me that people not intimate with the landscape, like the tribal members are, are the ones responsible for determining who is part of the decision-making process.

Additionally, these articles have affected my growing concern for endangered species. A study was done on the Bristol Bay watershed in Alaska, a watershed that supports 25 federally recognized tribal governments and subsistence fisheries, to further identify the impacts of large-scale mining projects. The case detailed how Alaska's native tribes have maintained a salmon-based culture and way of life for over 4,000 years. With the arrival of mining activities, it was revealed, according to the assessment, that off-channel habitats for salmon and other fishes would be reduced due to the loss of significant amounts of wetlands. This is only one example of the potential, and existent, effects of mining on surrounding ecosystems, which in turn, deeply affect native tribes/the people surrounding them.