National Forest projects currently being permitted for destruction by Hardrock Mining
At the present time, 44 National Forest "Reserves" are being threatened with 170 projects in the West (we are calculating other states—but the West is the worst hit). These are the mines being permitted—without any reference to the number of acres devastated or the number of mature trees destroyed.
Please note that the Forest Service records are so inept and so incomplete that it is impossible to discern a commerical multi-acre hardrock mining operation and a hobbyist gold panning and metal detecting claim. Why do you suppose that is? Please advise.