August 07, 2008 05:46 PM UTC

Cyanide Mining Fight More Than "Usual" Bickering

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Polis keeps the pressure on with a blast mail to his substantial email constituent list (follows).

As we noted a couple of days ago, and the Denver Post’s Jessica Fender writes for Politics West:

The recent flap over Joan Fitz-Gerald’s 2004 advocacy for using cyanide to mine gold – a process environmentalists object to – did more than launch the typical attacks from the two 2nd CD candidates who love to bicker. You know who they are.

It left third candidate and long-time conservationist Will Shafroth, who has so far stayed quiet on the attack front, joining opponent Jared Polis in openly criticizing Fitz-Gerald.

“It is unfortunate in a district like the 2nd Congressional District where past representatives have been such stalwarts for the environment that a candidate … would be a supporter of cyanide heap leach mining,” Shafroth said in a statement. “I have not and will not support this type of mining – it poisons our environment.”

So why suddenly start weighing in on the brawl between Fitz-Gerald and Polis?

“She supports the use of cyanide heap mining and Will does not,” said Shafroth’s spokeswoman Lynea Hansen. “This is a very important distinction.”

Incidently, nether does Polis.

Dear Friend,

In the closing days of this primary election a startling policy difference has emerged between Jared Polis and Joan Fitz-Gerald on the use of cyanide in mining. Cyanide leach mines consistently contaminate water resources with cyanide placing human, wildlife and environmental health at great risk.

With the Summitville mine disaster in 1992, Colorado learned of the extreme dangers of cyanide leach mining the hard way in what has been called the “costliest mining disaster in US history”:

“Cyanide, heavy metals, and acid mine drainage from the Summitville mine killed all aquatic life within 17 miles of the Alamosa River.” – SOURCE: “Banning cyanide use in mining,” State Environmental Resource Center, https://www.serconline.org/mini…

The policy difference between Jared Polis and Joan Fitz-Gerald is very simple.

Jared Polis:

“When it comes to protecting our environment, there is right and there is wrong. I strongly believe the use of cyanide is wrong and I will fight for a law to ban its use.”

Joan Fitz-Gerald:

“… [Fitz-Gerald] supports whatever method of extraction is safest, including cyanide mining.”

– SOURCE: Denver Post, August 6, 2008

Cyanide mining is not safe. In fact, there is not an environmentalist alive who thinks using cyanide is safe.

Joan Fitz-Gerald has gone to great lengths to try to convince voters she is a leader on environmental issues. However, she has taken thousands of dollars in special interest PAC money from the mining industry and, even worse, this week it was revealed she did them a “special favor” in 2004 when she tried to stop Summit County from banning the use of cyanide.

Cyanide leach mining is not safe.

Jared Polis will ban the use of cyanide in mining. Joan Fitz-Gerald did the bidding of the mining industry and supports the use of cyanide.

Grab your nearest environmentalist (we like to call them citizens) and make sure voters understand what is at stake on Election Day!

Sincerely,

Robert Becker

Campaign Manager, Polis for Congress