But despite those dire warnings, Vulcan is determined to visit and start a dialogue with G.O.B, and the community. When we spoke to their representative Janet Kavinoky two weeks ago she told us to quote: "we are exploring the feasibility of the project. We would not go forward with the project that could not be done environmentally, socially and sustainably."
But is that even possible? Acosta says no, citing the very nature of mining as intrusive, making any environmentally responsible operation by the company, in her opinion, nearly impossible.
Amanda Acosta, Executive Director, Audubon
"So, mining is in its nature very intrusive and so the nature of that project would make that next to impossible I would think. From what I have been hearing and what I have heard of the project it is one hill in particular Sugar Hill that will be. mined and according to their Mexican operations they have a pier where they then have a conveyor belt that takes the materials. The mining element naturally has it's impacts we all see Gracie Rock hills when we are driving so it visually gives us. an indicator of what this means, however, on our sides the concerns are the marine part of the project so any pier obviously will include some dredging, some serious infrastructure going in and then the vessel. I do not know necessarily how much materials will be extracted and the routes and the amount of vessels. that are coming in and out of our waters again, waters that are populated with manatees."
