REDSTONE — A Pitkin County miner was in U.S. District Court in Grand Junction last week on charges that he disturbed a historic mine at the foot of Mount Sopris in the Crystal River Valley.

It’s the latest development in a series of conflicts between Robert Congdon and “a few people in the White River National Forest that have something personal against me,” he said.

Congdon said he has a valid mining claim on 20 acres of Forest Service land that allows him to explore the Maree Love mine.

Congdon rediscovered the old mine in the early 1980s, he said. Research found it was probably established as a gold mine in the late 1880s, then converted to a lead mine and abandoned sometime in the 1950s.

Congdon claims he filed required paperwork to explore and develop the mine in 1986. Aspen and Sopris District Ranger Bill Westbrook said the paperwork is inadequate and no plan of operation was received.

“They’re just trying to get us on everything they can think of to make it as miserable as they possibly can,” Congdon said. “I’m beginning to seriously question if I’m living in the U.S.A. I’m just trying to make a living.”

Westbrook said there is nothing personal against Congdon.

“He’s been mining without an environmental assessment or approval,” he said. “We’re not singling Robert out. He decided to go into the mine on his own, and I’m not going to let that happen.”

Congdon said he only wants to offer limited tours to the site and into the mine, with no commercial mining.

Westbrook said the Forest Service wants to finish an inventory of the historic artifacts at the site before any more work is performed.

Congdon discovered the mine connects with a large vapor cave, heated by geothermal hot springs. That cave contains one of the largest colonies of Townsend’s big-eared bats, considered a “species of viability concern” because its habitat in mines and caves is being destroyed.

Studies are under way to determine how often the bats use the Maree Love mine, located near the Penny Hot Springs. Data is needed to help officials decide how much access to the mine to allow, Westbrook said.

Congdon was issued three citations for his actions at the mine. A fourth charge of interfering with a federal officer resulted when Congdon grew upset over the citations, Westbrook said.

Congdon said he would hire an attorney and fight the petty offense charges. He is scheduled to appear in federal court again in January. Westbrook said the charges against Congdon do not include jail time as a penalty.

White River Forest officials and Congdon have fought recently over his White Banks alabaster and marble mine along Avalanche Creek, about five miles north of Redstone and a few miles from the Maree Love mine. Congdon claims he has the needed approvals for that operation. White River officials asked him to resubmit a plan.

That conflict has kept a sculptor who began to carve a massive eagle to honor U.S. military veterans near the entrance to the alabaster and marble mine three years ago from working on his creation for most of this year or give tours to the site.

Jeremy Russell is carving the Cost of Freedom eagle. Congdon claims his permit allows Russell’s work and its display. Westbrook said the White River Forest disagrees and that tours and plans for more artistic creations in and around the mine are more a tourist attraction than a mining operation. Congdon and the agency also differ on whether he can mine year-round.

Congdon and Russell can apply for a special use permit to display the eagle, Westbrook said.

Russell, Congdon and other supporters have collected around 2,000 signatures to try to convince the Forest Service to let Russell resume carving the eagle.

“At this point, I’m not sure public opinion really matters to the Forest Service,” Russell said. “They said it’s nice, but it’s not what really matters. This has gone beyond frustrating.”

Mike McKibbin can be reached via e-mail at mmckibbin@gjds.com.