Colorado Geological Survey employee speaks at Liberty Rocks

E.F. Ferraro,
Correspondent

On May 27, 2021, “In the public interest and accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations”, the United States Geological Survey,
(USGS) announced a “low-level airborne project” during which “a low-flying helicopter will soon be visible to residents of Custer and Fremont counties, Colorado, beginning on or around June 4 and lasting potentially through August 31, 2021. The helicopter will be equipped with an elongate stinger mounted to the underside of the cabin extending forward of the helicopter”. That’s the good news.
The USGS is a scientific agency of the United States government. According to its website, the scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization’s work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology and hydrology. It was founded March 3, 1879. Today, the USGS is part of the much larger, U.S. Department of the Interior.

The idea of setting up a separate department to handle “domestic matters” was put forward on numerous occasions by lawmakers
after the birth of our nation. But it wasn’t until March 3, 1849, the last day of the 30th Congress, that a bill was passed to create the “Department of the Interior to take charge of our nation’s internal affairs to protect and manage the nation’s natural resources
and cultural heritage”. Today, the often disliked and untrusted department (fondly referred to as Interior) manages public lands and minerals, national parks, and wildlife refuges and upholds Federal trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and Native Alaskans. Additionally, Interior is responsible for relocating and managing endangered species (think wolves), conservation and other environmental conservation efforts, to include declaring small seasonal streams on private land as navigable waterways. Thus, producing a sometimes used, sleight of hand prohibiting the redirection or retention of such water on private land. But that’s another story.
According to public announcements, the low-level flights are coordinated by U.S. Geological Survey scientists [contractors actually] to “image geology at the surface and below ground”. The effort we’re told, is part of the much larger USGS Earth MRI (Earth Mapping Resources Initiative) project, intended to assist in better understanding the geology and natural resources in the area. Uh-huh.

You’re now probably wondering who pays for all of this? Of course, tax payers pay for it. The USGS 2022 budget is $1.6 billion, an increase of $326.9 million above the 2021 enacted level. USGS estimates that staffing is 8,196 full-time equivalents (FTEs), an increase of 475 FTEs from 2021.
With the intent to inform the public about the helicopters and the “low-level airborne project”, on June 17th, Liberty Rocks graciously hosted an open meeting at Tony’s Mountain Pizza. Mr. Jay Temple and Peter Barkmann, were the guest speakers. Mr. Temple, (a research geologist) began the talk with an informative overview of his background and experience. He identified himself and Mr. Barkmann (a hydrologist) as employees of the Colorado School of Mines. (Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) is part of CSM.) Apparently, the CGS hired the helicopter and assigned Temple and Barkmann to map the history of geological formations and the presence of rare earth metals like thorium.
Thorium is a weakly radioactive metallic chemical element with the symbol Th and atomic number 90. Thorium is silvery and tarnishes black when it is exposed to air, forming thorium dioxide. It is moderately soft, malleable, and has a high melting point. Thorium, a rare-earth element is sought by the world’s most powerful nations for its use in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Its presence was first mapped by the USGS in Fremont and Custer Counties in the late 1950s and 60s.
Temple and Barkmann said the helicopters might look scary but neither emit or capture electronic signals or radiation. They told the audience their only purpose is to merely economically perform a “aero-magnetic survey”.
The survey measures “natural magnetic strength of formation under the surface”. They then confidently told the audience of about 45 concerned citizens and 27 watching online to not worry. The concentrations of thorium found (on private property) was not sufficient to economically mine and recover. Thus, they said, the “project” is now “merely academic” and their results will be published in eight to ten months. To put the increasingly concerned audience more at ease, Mr. Barkmann informed the group he is a ground water expert.
During the Q&A Hydrologist Peter Barkmann was asked if the helicopter/planes are looking at our water. He did say that water is not a part of their scope in this study. He contradicted himself here. Then he backtracked and clarified and says that they are looking at a more comprehensive map of water distribution underground.
After a number of slides and more than an hour of talking, the two Colorado Geological Survey contractors opened the floor to questions from the still uncomfortable audience. The questions and sometimes answers, covered such matters as government overreach, the possibility of government confiscation (eminent domain) of privately owned land in search of rare earth minerals (adamantly, the speakers said that was unlikely), helicopter emissions (they operate at 400-600 feet above ground level, AND do not carry weapons…and only “measure the earth’s magnetic field”, thus have no emissions other than that of its engine), and whether the project was also seeking underground water information for an ulterior motive (we were told it was not).
The event was recorded, and caller questions were taken and answered. Most of the attendees left more concerned then when they had arrived.