Bush Administration Criticizes Jeweler Over Letter Criticizing Plans for Mine

AP ^ | Mar. 25, 2004

[nuconvert]

Bush Administration Criticizes Jeweler Over Letter Criticizing Plans for Mine

Mar 25, 2004

By Nicholas K. Geranios/ Associated Press Writer/

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - The jeweler Tiffany & Co. is publicly opposing plans for a silver and copper mine beneath a wilderness area in Montana, prompting a forceful response Thursday from the Bush administration. Tiffany officials paid for an open letter published Wednesday in The Washington Post that asked Forest Service chief Dale Bosworth, whose agency has approved the mine, to block construction. The mine would require boring three miles under the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area near the Montana-Idaho border.

Mark Rey, an undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture, said the letter signed by Tiffany's chief executive was filled with errors, though he declined to say what they were.

"I'm guessing this ad in The Washington Post cost upwards of $50,000," said Rey, director of the administration's forest policy, in a telephone interview. "For $49,999.63 less, they could have sent us this letter and given their customers a discount on their products."

Mining interests also criticized Tiffany, suggesting the company was responding to threats of boycotts of its jewelry from environmentalists opposed to the mine.

The Forest Service approved the mine in June, but nine environmental groups have sued to stop construction, saying the mine would hurt grizzly bears and bull trout in the area.

Bosworth planned to meet April 15 with Michael J. Kowalski, chairman and chief executive officer of Tiffany, who signed the open letter, Rey said.

Officials with New York-based Tiffany, a 167-year-old company whose name is synonymous with fine jewelry, stood by the contents of the open letter and called for reform in federal mining policy.

"It is by no means the first time that we have communicated with appropriate government officials about our desire to see precious metals and gemstones extracted in environmentally and socially responsible ways," the company said. "Our record on that score goes back nearly a decade."

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[RightWhale]

If they want an open pit mine they could start with a 50 megaton groundburst. It would save a lot of time, and mosquitos wouldn't be a problem this summer.

[nuconvert]

"Mining interests also criticized Tiffany, suggesting the company was responding to threats of boycotts of its jewelry from environmentalists opposed to the mine."

Ah Ha........

[NonValueAdded]

Appeasers!

[JimSEA]

Officials with New York-based Tiffany, a 167-year-old company whose name is synonymous with fine jewelry, stood by the contents of the open letter and called for reform in federal mining policy.

At one time Tiffany's had an old mine at Gleason near Bisbee AZ as a turqioise mine. The environmentalists should do and impact assessment on that. the tree huggers know where gold, silver and copper come from so I am sure they see Tiffany's as an exploiter. The domestic mining industry has been destroyed already. A little environmental concern might be shown for the nickel mines at norvask, Russia or various mines in China. The American industry is (or was in mny cases)the most responsible in the world, ahead even of scandanavia.

[facedown]

BTTB

Sheesh...

[kcvl]

They don't have a clue what toilet paper is made of. So don't give them credit for knowing much of anything else. They hug trees with one hand and use toilet paper (made from trees) with the other.


Do as I say, not as I do.

[Nick Danger]

"It is by no means the first time that we have communicated with appropriate government officials about our desire to see precious metals and gemstones extracted in environmentally and socially responsible ways, retain value through scarcity," the company said.

There. Fixed it for 'em.

[tinamina]

I think Tiffanys is afraid the price of silver will go down and their prisec will look even more exhorbitant.

[swilhelm73]

They don't have a clue what toilet paper is made of. So don't give them credit for knowing much of anything else. They hug trees with one hand and use toilet paper (made from trees) with the other.

Now if we could only convince them to use deodorant.

There are things more unpleasant then close proximity to an envirowacko but I can generally keep my nose away from those...

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!!!