Those of you who are fans of Montana’s Smith River have no doubt heard this news by now: the Montana DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) has issued their Draft EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) for the proposed Black Butte mine project. The early news on the EIS document, reported across regional more than national outlets like this article in the Great Falls Tribune, generally offered up this as an opener –
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an environmental analysis of a proposed copper mine that says the $250 million project won’t harm the Smith River.
But the agency’s recommended alternative requires additional steps by the developer to ensure water resources aren’t harmed.
The agency’s preferred alternative, contained in a draft environmental impact statement released Monday, modifies the original plan of developer Tintina Montana.
Digging a Little Deeper on the Black Butte Draft EIS
As always, for those interested, and in particular for those impacted personally by the project – which includes any of you reading today who might have or want to at some time in the future spend a few days on the Smith – it’s well worth your time to dig into the details.
Here’s the Main Page for the EIS Packet. Note when you click the Documents tab the 28 different sections, not counting the appendices, drop down to select and read (pdf). This is a fairly technical mass of data, and I’m presuming that’s why folks are still sifting through the information; I for one would like to see Montana TU’s spin on the details here…
Here’s Where You Come In: Learn More and Comment
Public Meetings and two Webinars have been scheduled to allow stakeholders to submit oral comments on the Draft EIS:
April 29, 2019 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Park High School, 102 View Vista Dr., Livingston, Montana
April 30, 2019 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the White Sulphur Springs High School, 405 S. Central Ave., WSS, MT
May 1 and May 2, 2019, webinars, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Sign-up instructions to follow at a later date
Written comments may be submitted at the public meetings, via email at TintinaDraftEIS@mt.gov, or postal mail at:
Craig Jones
Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 200901
Helena, MT 59601
The comment period closes 10 May – PLEASE fire a comment off NOW. I’m open to engaging with pro-mine voices here on ChiWulff that offer cogent arguments, but overall Black Butte doesn’t seem worthy of risking the health of the Smith River over.
