ASHLAND, Maine — An informational meeting to discuss potential mining at Bald Mountain and mining-related activities originally planned for Dec. 12 at Ashland Community School has now been scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014 at the same location.
“The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce and the towns of Ashland and Portage Lake have arranged an informational meeting for area residents on Thursday at the school. This meeting will provide area residents an opportunity to learn more about the potential mining in the area of Bald Mountain and the processes that are required before mining can begin,” said CACC Executive Director Theresa Fowler.
Fowler said there has been much speculation about the potential mining of this area and the effect it may have on the surrounding communities.
“This will be an opportunity for residents of the area surrounding Bald Mountain to learn more about the proposal and ask questions,” Fowler said.
There will be guest speakers and elected representatives have been invited to attend as well.
“Guest speakers include Dr. Robert Marvinney, Maine state geologist and representative from AMEC, a focused supplier of consultancy, engineering and project management services in the world’s oil and gas, mining, clean energy, environment and infrastructure markets. Marvinney will speak on his knowledge of the geology of the area and volume of mineral deposits,” she said.
Carol A. White will also be speaking on groundwater preservation.
“Ms. White has been responsible for a variety of hydrogeologic investigations, water supply studies and hazardous waste investigations. She has supervised large-scale remedial investigations at several Superfund sites involving geophyiscal investigations, monitoring well installation, sampling and analysis of surface water, groundwater and soil; pumping tests and remedial design,” said Fowler.
Fowler said this presentation is meant to be educational and informative but will not relate to specific proposals for any mining operations in Bald Mountain.
“At this point the state Legislature is studying changes to regulations which may allow mining in the state of Maine. Any specific mining plan would cost several millions of dollars to develop, so will not be started until interested parties area certain that regulations and laws will make mining a feasible operation in the state,” Fowler said.
According to Fowler, the Land Use Planning Commission has been holding hearings and receiving written comment regarding amendments to Chapter 12 Land Use District Requirements for Metallic Mining and Level C Mineral Exploration Activities. This rezoning is required before there can be a request for a mining permit made to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
For more information on the public comment draft, visit www.maine.gov/doc/lupc/.
Fowler said a legislative update on where mining ruling for Maine currently stands will also be provided at the meeting.
The meeting will provide information on the latest mining strategies and procedures. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the meeting scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. A facilitated question-and-answer session will follow the presentations.
For more information, call the CACC at 764-6561, Ashland Town Office at 435-2311 or Portage Lake Town Office at 435-4361.
“Please note that at its meeting on Dec. 3, the Board of Environmental Protection voted to request additional public comment on a number of proposed revisions to the draft rule of Chapter 200 Metallic Mineral Exploration, Advanced Exploration and Mining, including provisions related to mining prohibitions, application information, financial assurance requirements, mining standards, and post-closure care requirements,” Fowler said.
The deadline for comment on these proposed revisions was Dec. 23.
Fowler said the meeting is not about mining a specific site but rather how mining is handled in the 21st century, standard procedures, operations and disposal methods.
