Coeur d'Alene Mining Co.
Thunder Mountain Gold Mine Reclamation

The Coeur Thunder Mountain Gold Mine is located in Central Idaho within an extremely sensitive environment, specifically, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness area. Within this environment, Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation constructed, operated and successfully reclaimed the Thunder Mountain Gold Mine, which was then returned to wildlife habitat. These actions were conducted with no environmental violations.

Before the Coeur Thunder Mountain Gold Mine was built in 1985, Coeur planned and installed a water drainage system designed to protect local streams and rivers and a nearby salmon fishery from sediment. A plan was also developed to grow native grasses and trees in areas disturbed by mining so that soils would be stabilized to prevent erosion and revegetation could occur concurrently with mining to achieve the ultimate goal of wildlife habitat.

Coeur found it was best to plant trees native to the area on reclaimed lands. Company employees collected lodgepole pine seeds from trees surrounding the mine site and grew these seeds in a nursery. When the mine closed in 1990, these native lodgepole pine seedlings were planted throughout the mine site. To insure the success of these plantings, Coeur, in partnership with the internationally renowned Wildlife Habitat Council, sponsored a student intern program to care for the tree seedlings, grass plantings and the water drainage system at the closed Coeur Thunder Mountain Gold Mine. College students were selected for the internship program based on their interest in environmental and conservation issues and their academic achievements. Six students from the Northwest qualified for the program. Together, the student interns planted and watered tree seedlings, transplanted native shrubs, developed wetland habitat and seeded grasses at the mine site and in its vicinity. They improved water drainage systems and managed the site so that the mined lands were self sustaining.

The student intern partnership provided Coeur the opportunity to demonstrate how industry is working to balance resource production with environmental protection. Coeur and the Wildlife Habitat Council successfully developed a partnership between education, environmental conservation and industrial protection. The students were provided a first hand look at where minerals come from, their uses and the balance between man and nature.

In the process, Coeur also developed a partnership with students and a conservation organization. For these efforts, and Coeur's commitment to environmental management, compliance and reclamation, Coeur received the prestigious Dupont/Conoco Environmental Leadership Award. This award is very unique because environmental group leaders selected Coeur as the recipient. Coeur also received the "Star Award" sponsored by the National Environmental Developmental Association. Coeur was recognized by the Association for their "preplanning to avoid pollution" program, habitat restoration and environmental enhancement, and community outreach programs.

The Coeur Thunder Mountain Gold Mine serves as a shining example of industry's ability to operate and successfully reclaim a mine in extremely sensitive natural environments. It also demonstrates that partnerships with the public achieves successes for industry, as well as for interest groups. In the end, the Thunder Mountain Gold Mine was returned to its original productive use--wildlife habitat.

Visit Coeur's website at www.coeur.com