The current administration has removed environmental protections and safeguards that were in place previously to allow communities to comment on proposed exploratory drilling projects. Currently, Mammoth Lakes and the communities of the Eastern Sierra are under threat from KORE Mining, a Canadian mining company which has resubmitted an application for exploratory drilling adjacent to Hot Creek Geologic Site.

With these changes, we as community members of the Eastern Sierra and visitors to the area, have had no chance to submit public input or provide concerns about the project. Our voices have been silenced. Furthermore, our local governing bodies like the Mono County Board of Supervisors and Mammoth Lakes Town Council have not had the opportunity to voice concerns because there have been no formal announcements of proposed plans and there has not been a public comment period.

We believe that as members of these communities and advocates for our public lands, we deserve the right to submit comments and concerns about KORE Mining’s project at Hot Creek.

This project will create lasting and irreversible impacts on the area. It will affect the ecosystem, our access to public lands, and significantly impact our tourist-based economy. It is imperative that our concerns as residents of Mammoth Lakes and visitors to the Eastern Sierra are considered. Our health, our ecosystems, and our economy rely on a healthy Hot Creek. It is necessary for our Federal Government to allow local communities to provide input. Hot Creek is truly one of the greatest natural and recreational resources in the Eastern Sierra and we must protect it. Without full disclosure of the proposal to the community and an adequate comment period, we are being disenfranchised from the stewardship of public lands in the community in which we live and work.

What you can do:

Subject: Opposition to Exploratory Drilling at Hot Creek

Attention Mammoth District Ranger Fred Wong,

• Hot Creek is one of the Eastern Sierra’s greatest treasured natural and recreational resources. [State your personal connection to the area, whether it is personal memories, impacts your livelihood as a guide or business owner.]

• I oppose the exploratory drilling adjacent to the Hot Creek Geologic Site because this project will create lasting and irreversible impacts on the area including access to public lands, significantly impacting our tourist-based economy, and impacts to already threatened species such as the Bi-State Sage Grouse and the Tui Chub.

• The unique water quality of Hot Creek will also be impacted. It is important to note that Hot Creek is a tributary of the Owens River which provides drinking water to the City of Los Angeles.

• Without full disclosure of the proposal to the community and an adequate comment period, we are being disenfranchised from the stewardship of public lands in the community in which we live and work.