Andrus To Appear At Mining Convention Some Republicans Angered At Selection Of Old Adversary
The Northwest Mining Association has invited an old adversary to address its 103rd annual convention in Spokane in December.
Cecil Andrus, the Carter administration Interior secretary and four-term Idaho governor, has agreed to be the convention’s keynote speaker Dec. 2.
Andrus earned the enmity of the mining industry while at the Interior Department by imposing new surface mining guidelines and by prohibiting mineral and petroleum exploration in much of Alaska.
“We’re pleased that a man who is a vocal and effective advocate for stringent and comprehensive environmental regulations for mining will keynote our meeting,” association Executive Director Laura Skaer said Monday.
Art Brown, Hecla Mining Co. president and chief executive officer, said he found the news of Andrus’ appearance interesting.
“In his last years as governor, he became more understanding,” he said. “His environmental friends started to annoy him. He’s certainly not the guy who locked up three quarters of Alaska. It might be interesting to hear what someone with more liberal views will have to say.”
The announcement angered Coeur d’Alene Republicans who think Sen. Larry Craig should have gotten the honor. Craig, R-Idaho, has carried mining law reform and Coeur d’Alene Basin cleanup legislation favorable to miners through the Senate.
For his part, Andrus, who serves on the board of Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp. and will receive no fee for the speech, was conciliatory.
“I know from firsthand experience that the vast majority of the industry has committed itself to an honest effort to improve environmental practices,” he said in a prepared statement. “I intend to acknowledge that progress, and, of course, use the opportunity to urge the industry to keep on the path of environmental responsibility.”