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Helicopter mining proposed Wildlife covered in plan for mine in Siskiyou forest The Associated Press GRANTS PASS -- Pressed by environmentalists to protect rare plants and steelhead from a nickel laterite mine, the Siskiyou National Forest has proposed requiring the miner to haul out ore samples by helicopter while proving his operation will make money. The helicopter proposal is the preferred alternative in a supplemental draft environmental impact statement being issued next week on miner Walt Freeman's plans to extract the ore, used to produce stainless steel, from the Rough and Ready Creek watershed south of Cave Junction. The preferred alternative, known as Option 9, would limit Freeman to hauling out 5,000 tons of ore for bulk sampling, rather than allowing him to begin full-scale mining. Neither Freeman nor environmentalists were satisfied with the Forest Service proposal, which was offered after an original draft environmental impact statement on full-scale mining operations drew 3,000 public comments. The Forest Service will take further comment through Jan. 29 and hopes to have a decision by spring. Using helicopters to haul out the ore would minimize the impact on rare plants and steelhead caused by rebuilding roads and having trucks run through the creek, said Illinois Valley District Ranger Joel King. The Forest Service estimated it would cost $840,000 to haul out the ore samples by helicopter. That compares with $870,000 to $2.8 million to haul out the ore in full-scale operations. The Forest Service analysis found that mining would lose money because of depressed prices for nickel ore worldwide, and the absence of a nearby smelter. Allowing Freeman to do additional sampling of the ore will give him a chance to prove that the mine will make money, King added. Freeman wants to mine nickel laterite ore at four sites covering a total of 35 acres in the Rough and Ready Creek watershed. The mining would go on for 10 years and the ore would be stockpiled. He first applied for permission to mine in 1992. One of the mining sites is within the Rough and Ready Botanical Area, set aside to protect rare plants that grow in the serpentine soils found in the area. Forest Service botanists have said that mining could harm six species of rare plants. Biologists have warned that road building along the creek and running through shallow fjords would produce sediment harmful to steelhead. Freeman has also applied for a patent that would give him ownership of 4,360 acres around the mining sites at a cost of $2.50 per acre. Freeman termed the helicopter proposal "preposterous," and added that the economic analyses were unwarranted. Freeman said his family has been working on this proposal for 50 years, and he intends to see it through. Barbara Ullian, conservation director of the Siskiyou Project, said the Forest Service should withdraw the watershed from mineral exploitation and examine the validity of the mineral "The Forest Service analysis shows ... the mining claim is bogus and the mineral deposit is questionable," said Barbara Ullian, conservation director for the Siskiyou Project. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA