America's Most Endangered Rivers - (Page 11) posed New World gold mine. Toxic waste from the mine would have posed an unacceptable risk to clean water, fish and wildlife, and the millions of Americans who enjoy the park. In 1996 our efforts culminated in a Presidential Action to stop the mine and protect this national treasure. of pollution from cyanide and acid mine drainage. Shortly after the report’s release, voters in Montana enacted a ballot initiative banning the use of cyanide in extracting gold in the state. ing trout, sturgeon, and the area’s recreation and tourism. Mine pollution also threatened wild rice beds and sacred lands of the Menominee, Sokaogon Chippewa, and Potawatomi tribes. Thousands spoke out against the mine, and in 2003 two tribes bought the mine site. The land purchase killed the mine proposal, and ensured the area will be protected to support clean water, tourism jobs and tribal culture. SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, DON WILLIAMS Altamaha River GEORGIA Wolf River WISCONSIN Susquehanna River N E W Y O R K , P E N N S Y LVA N I A , MARYLAND At risk from sewage pollution and dam construction, the Susquehanna was number one on the list in 2005. Within days of the report’s release, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency dropped its proposal to adopt a new policy which would have legalized the dumping of partially treated sewage into the Susquehanna and other rivers across the country. In 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied the permit to construct an inflatable dam on the river, killing the illadvised proposal. Blackfoot River M O N TA N A of the last wild rivers in the Midwest, was on the list in 1995, 1997 and 1998. The mine, located at the Wolf’s headwaters, would have dumped 44 million tons of waste into this National Wild and Scenic River, threaten- WOLF RIVER, EIDI HANSEN FLICKR.COM The threat of a cyanide heap-leach gold mine landed the Blackfoot, one of Montana’s great trout streams and recreation destinations, on the list in 1998. The mine, which would have been developed less than a quartermile from the river’s edge, carried the risk A M E R I C A’ S M O S T E N DA N G E R E D R I V E R S T M : 2 0 0 8 E D I T I O N | W W W. A M E R I C A N R I V E R S . O R G BLACKFOOT RIVER, EDITH OBERLEY OF BITTERROOT AND BERGAMOT/FLICKR.COM 11 ALTAMAHA RIVER, TIM PALMER At risk from a zinc and copper sulfide mine, the Wolf River, one Proposals for new dams and power plants that would reduce river levels, destroy habitat and concentrate pollution put the Altamaha on the list in 2002. Our report highlighted the need for increased water and energy efficiency as an alternative to these irresponsible proposals. Following the listing, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rescinded its permit for a new reservoir on a tributary of the river. http://www.americanrivers.org
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