Near Crested Butte, CO
Overview: The Mt. Emmons (AKA Red Lady) land exchange has been in the works for many years. It involves the exchange of three parcels of federal land (551 acres) needed to facilitate “Remediation Activities” at the historic Keystone Mine for one parcel of non- federal land located in Gunnison County and three parcels of non-federal land located in Saguache County, Colorado (totaling 624 acres).
Crested Butte locals and organizations have long pursued this exchange as a means of halting mining on Mt. Emmons, a widely popular site for recreation. Mount Emmons Mining Company (MEMC) seeks the exchange for easier management of a water treatment facility and remediation. Although this exchange is widely supported, it is complicated in scope given the number of stakeholders, questions on conservation easements and water rights, and the Forest Service pursuing it through a categorical exclusion.
• Status: The scoping comment period closed on October 17, 2022. We now await response to our comments and additional document release.
• Federal Agency: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests, Gunnison Ranger District
• Proponents: Mount Emmons Mining Company (MEMC)
• Representatives: Western Land Group
• Location: Gunnison and Saguache Counties, near Crested Butte
• Public Land To Be Conveyed To Proponent: Three parcels of federal land aggregating 551 acres
• Non-Federal Land To Be Acquired By Public: One parcel of non-federal land totaling 624 acres
• USFS Project Website for all project documents
Documents Received via Freedom of Information Act Requests
Read more: Mt. Emmonshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1UCsyAN_MqJGZIMkow3JO44-DKLHrZ9r3BI6B86XJIo0/edit