The EPA’s draft watershed assessment paints a grim picture of the mine’s impact. Between 54 and 89 miles of streams would be lost, including key spawning and rearing habitat for sockeye, chinook and coho salmon. Between 1,200 and 4,800 acres of wetlands would be lost. The mine’s transportation corridor would cross 53 streams and rivers that are known to or are likely to support young salmon.
The worst effect would be if one or more of the mine’s tailing dams were to fail. Because there’s no plan to remove these dams — which could be higher than the Washington Monument or the St. Louis Gateway Arch — after mining operations cease, they would need to be maintained in perpetuity.
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