HAZARDOUS "HORSE MOUNTAIN" MINE SLATED FOR CLEAN-UP

Horse Mountain, CA- Somewhere in the midst of the snow-covered, forested terrain known as Horse Mountain, sits an open-pit mine. It was mostly operated in the early 70's, until the managing company went bankrupt. The threat of cave-ins, unidentified vertical shafts, and ecological risks have prompted the clean up. Out of 189 identified mine sites, this is the largest and highest-profile mine “clean up” they've dealt with in the forest. Engineers have completed an engineering evaluation and cost assessment that indicates the higher metal concentration could be hazardous if it drains into the local water system. Now, forest officials are seeking public help to determine the best method for mitigating the site risks. Two options are: hauling the waste material away or encapsulating the material with asphalt. It could take multiple years to fully complete. For more information, go to: fs.usda.gov/srnf