This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Corporate-written safety reports

Sun., Dec. 22, 2019

The U.S. Forest Service got caught abandoning its duty and its public trust responsibility by allowing Midas Gold, Inc. to write the critical biological assessment of the effects of Midas’ proposed gold mine on threatened and endangered species (“Documents: Idaho mining company writing its own environmental report,” Spokesman-Review, Dec.13). Midas spokesperson McKinsey Lyon said it’s normal for a company to write its own biological assessment.

Ms. Lyon might just be right. Didn’t the Federal Aviation Administration similarly abandon its duty and its public trust responsibility when it allowed Boeing Corporation to write its own safety reports on Boeing’s 737 Max airplane?

Charles Ray

McCall, Idaho

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

No more than 250 words
We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form: Submit your letter here
Mail: Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email: letters@spokesman.com
Fax: (509) 459-5098
Phone: (509) 459-5403