More on the Water Board meeting

To our RMK neighbors, those who I have met and those who I have yet to meet:

Many of the long-time residents of Diamond XX are familiar with Meridian Beartrack Company’s (Meridian’s) efforts at RMK. The scheduled public meetings with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) have been, and are related to Meridian’s efforts to reconcile our differences with the Regional Board as was directed by the State Water Board after our appeal to them way back in 2003. This is a key component to finally bring the RMK site into closure and subsequent future beneficial uses.

The project for revising the Basin Plan, known as a Basin Plan Amendment (BPA) is, from Meridian/RMK’s perspective, to officially recognize that there was and is naturally salty groundwater AT THE RMK SITE. Our objective is recognition that the moving of pockets of salty water around the site is not “pollution.” Unfortunately, regulatory mandates require that despite real evidence, unless the Basin Plan recognizes that salty water exists, then it doesn’t in the eyes of the law.

The characteristics of the salty water pockets resulting from RMK mining activity are virtually indistinguishable from the naturally occurring ones in the area. All of our 20+ years of data and literally millions of dollars in reports required by the Regional Water Board indicate that impacts are restricted to our property. I am not asking anyone to take my word for the correctness of RMK’s conclusions at this time; the BPA technical report done by the Regional Board and submitted for independent third-party review will either support or refute our own conclusions. However, the process will have to move forward with your tacit support to reach final conclusions.

I want to make it clear to everyone that it was our understanding when the contract was signed with the Regional Board that the area of study and consequential BPA would apply specifically and solely to the RMK property. Any effort that the Regional Board extends beyond the RMK property boundary is their own design. We are disappointed in the direction that the Regional Board has taken and I specifically want you to know that I personally registered surprise at this turn of events within minutes of receiving a copy of the state request for well data from Diamond XX residents on August third. As of today, August 6, the Regional Board has chosen not to clearly address concerns about their purpose of requesting well information from our neighbors; further inflaming the valid concerns of both Meridian and our neighbors.

I assure you that based on the vague and yet-to-be explained correspondence from the Regional Board, Meridian shares the dismay of our neighbors regarding the current situation. Meridian does not want this process to negatively affect you or your properties. Unless the Regional Board clearly states that the study is to be limited to the RMK site, Meridian will withdraw our participation from this project in support of our neighbors.

I will be attending the meeting on the 20th and will be available to answer any questions our neighbors may have of me after the meeting.

Sincerely,

Adam Whitman
President
Meridian Beartrack Company; owner of RMK