Idarado Mining Company
Public Outreach/Land Use Communications
Telluride, Colo.
Project Overview
After the Idarado Mining Company completed the environmental closure and reclamation of its mines in Telluride Colo., the company embarked on a land use project, known as the Idarado Legacy. The goal was to return the majority of Idarado-owned land near Telluride to public stewardship and to retain a small section of land on the valley floor for the development of home sites. Despite the public benefit associated with the plan, activists, NGOs and some government leaders announced their intention to block Idarado’s home site development plans. Idarado retained Sigler Communications to develop and implement a communications strategy to help it gain approval from San Miguel County to develop the home sites and to successfully transfer the majority of Idarado owned land to public ownership.
Sigler Communications' Role
In developing the communications strategy for the Idarado Legacy, Sigler Communications assessed public opinion about the land transfer, managed media relations and interacted with various stakeholders including county officials and the non-profit Trust for Public Lands. Our firm developed presentations and speaking points for meetings with the county and city officials and residents. We orchestrated two public forums as part of the land use application in which residents were encouraged to learn more about the project and provide public comment. We managed media relations during the land application process, which included interaction with two local newspapers and radio stations.
Results
As a result of winning the necessary approvals from the city and the county, in April 2004, Idarado concluded its final transfer of high-country land to the Trust for Public Lands. Through this sale, more than 5,500 acres of private land formerly owned by Idarado became public. The land includes 402 historic mining claims and the remains of buildings from the 19th century. The home site development plan also received approval.