This Romanian mine was in its first year of production. Locally this event seems to have quickly and quietly disappeared from the news arena. Although the disaster continues in Europe, local news reports are silent despite the correlation with the local proposal by Battle Mountain Gold Company. Putting toxic tailings behind an earthen dam on a creek in the mountains, like BMG proposes on Buckhorn, fatally resembles this recent catastrophe. Although the European mine in question happens to be partially Australian based Esmeralda Exploration LTD, this company denies responsibility for this international disaster.
Corporations often use bankruptcy to avoid responsibilities.
Then there is the Summitville Colorado Mine which killed 17 miles of the Alamosa River due to a failed liner after less than one month of operation in 1993. And don't forget the 1998 disaster at the Kumtor Mine in Krgyzstan, Russia. This cyanide spill is alleged to have killed at least one local resident. Despite these examples, our Congressman Slade Gorton has, through slipping riders into an unrelated bill, reinstated BMG's illegal proposal to mine Buckhorn in a similar manner. Models predict BMG's plan would require perpetual treatment to prevent pollution.