News
Reversal of mining ban in Boundary Waters could impact Montana
15+ hour, 37+ min ago (884+ words) (Missoula Current)The U. S. Senate on Thursday voted 50-49 to overturn a 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, using a law that could have ramifications for land protections in other states including Montana. The Senate spent several…...
Conservation groups to sue feds over Flathead timber project
2+ week, 4+ day ago (496+ words) (Daily Montanan) Two Western Montana conservation organizations announced this week they intend to file a lawsuit against the U. S. Forest Service alleging that a recently approved timber project in the Flathead violates the Endangered Species Act. Swan View Coalition and Friends…...
Trump officials plan to remove protections on 58 M acres of forest
1+ week, 19+ hour ago (432+ words) (Oregon Capital Chronicle) Trump administration officials intend to remove protections and open to some development more than 58 million acres of national forests across 40 states, including37% of Montana's forest acreage. Brooke Rollins, head of the U. S. Department of Agriculture formally announced the proposed…...
Judge leans towards conservation in sage grouse dispute with feds
1+ week, 9+ hour ago (435+ words) PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) "An Oregon federal judge on Thursday heard dueling summary judgment motions over cattle grazing in key sage grouse research areas, signaling he may seek additional briefing on potential remedies before issuing a ruling. U. S. District Judge Michael H. Simon…...
Mining company to submit new W. Bitterroot plan
2+ week, 3+ day ago (565+ words) (Missoula Current)The Bitterroot National Forest on Monday said that a mining company that owns mineral rights near the West Fork of the Bitterroot River has rescinded its draft plan for exploration of the Sheep Creek Project in order to…...
Australian mining company touts Blackfoot gold mine as "flagship
3+ week, 2+ day ago (593+ words) (Missoula Current)Fans of the Blackfoot River are concerned about an Australian mining company's renewed interest in gold deposits in the mountains southeast of Lincoln. DEQ is accepting public comment on the environmental assessment until April 6. Comments can be emailed…...
Last hope to save Apache sacred land fizzles out at Supreme Court
4+ week, 12+ hour ago (492+ words) WASHINGTON (CN) " In a loss for Apache women, Justice Elena Kagan'refused on Thursday to pause'a massive copper mining project set to turn a sacred religious site into a 2-mile-wide crater. The Barack Obama appointee did not refer the Apaches'emergency application…...
Viewpoint: Montana knows the true cost of mining mistakes
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (519+ words) Like a lot of Montanans, I measure decisions about public lands through hard-earned experience, not political talking points. I've spent most of my adult life in Montana. I've built my career here and raised my family here. But I grew…...
Interior Secretary praises work in Butte to grow mining industry
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (681+ words) BUTTE (KPAX) " U. S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said Friday that the work being done at Montana Technological University " and in the rest of Butte " is going to be key, as the federal government puts additional emphasis on mining and…...
Zinke leads push to allow mining near Boundary Waters Wilderness
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (487+ words) (Missoula Current)The House of Representatives, spurred by Rep. Ryan Zinke, voted to override a 3-year-old Interior Department order that temporarily banned copper sulfide mining in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. Zinke said that…...