National Parks Conservation Association Applauds Sec. Salazar Visit to Glacier National Park; Looks to Leadership from U.S. Department of Interior to Stop Mining Threats
|
PRESS RELEASE
|
|
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| Date: | August 11, 2009 |
| Contact: | Will Hammerquist, Glacier Program Manager, National Parks Conservation Association, 406-885-9455 |
National Parks Conservation Association Applauds Sec. Salazar Visit to Glacier National Park; Looks to Leadership from U.S. Department of Interior to Stop Mining Threats
Secretary Salazar traveled to Glacier National Park today to see for himself the potential impacts of mining on this world-class resource. In June, an international coalition of conservation organizations from Canada and the United States petitioned the World Heritage committee requesting that Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park be added to the list of World Heritage sites “In Danger” due to proposed mining activities in the Canadian headwaters of the Flathead River Valley, which flows into the United States portion of the Peace Park.
As a result of the petition, the Committee voted unanimously to send an international team of scientists to evaluate and provide recommendations to ensure the site’s protection, and also requested that Canada and the United States prepare a joint report on the impacts of proposed mining near Waterton-Glacier for presentation at the next World Heritage Committee meeting.
Following is a statement by NPCA Glacier Program Manager Will Hammerquist on Secretary Salazar’s visit to this area today:
“The National Parks Conservation Association thanks Secretary Salazar for traveling to Glacier National Park to visit the Transboundary Flathead River valley. There is no better way to understand the devastating impacts that industrial mining in the Canadian headwaters of this valley would have on Glacier National Park, the Flathead River, and Flathead Lake.
Our international coalition is pleased that the Obama Administration understands the tremendous value of the Flathead River valley and Glacier National Park. We believe that the Department of Interior will provide leadership in ensuring that the World Heritage committee’s scientific mission and the joint report on mining impacts are thorough and become the leading example of international cooperation under the World Heritage Convention.
We thank Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester for making this trip a reality and their continued commitment to protecting America’s national parks.”
###
