Helena speaks out for the Smith River
On November 6th in Helena, concerned sportsmen and women, guides, outfitters, business owners and citizens showed up to let their voices be heard at the third public hearing on the proposed copper mine at the headwaters of the Smith River Around 200 people were in attendance with more than 30 offering oral comments on the project. This was the third of four public hearings, with opponents continuing to outnumber proponents.
Hours before the meeting opponents of the mine towed drift boats and rafts sporting “No Smith River Mine” signs around the Capitol. Opponents lined the northern edge of the grounds and displayed signs on the front steps of the Capitol to send a message to the Governor that this proposed foreign owned mine is bad for Montana.
Watch the Helena press coverage on the event.
The fourth and final hearing will be held in Livingston at the Park County High School Gymnasium from 6-9:00pm.
Trout Line – Fall 2017
Follow the link to read the full electronic version of Montana Trout Unlimited’s quarterly newsletter.
Join MTU and others to rally for the Smith River
Sign up to catch a bus to Helena from Bozeman or Missoula to attend Montana DEQ Public Hearing on the Black Butte Copper Mine or tow your boat to the Capitol and join our boat procession and rally on the Capitol lawn. Learn more and sign up here.
Great Falls stands up for the Smith River
More than 100 people attended a meeting at the Great Falls Civic Center on Monday about a controversial copper mine proposed in Meagher County.
About 30 people spoke, with the majority raising concerns about the environmental impacts of the mine, called Black Butte Copper project.
You can read more about it in the Great Falls Tribune here.
Public hearings coming up:
White Sulphur Springs High School Wednesday.
Radisson Colonial Hotel, Helena, Nov. 6.
Park County High School, Livingston, Nov. 7.
All meetings are 6 to 9 p.m.
Montana DEQ adds additional public meeting in Helena
Smith River supporters will have another opportunity to voice their concerns about Tintina Resource’s proposed copper mine on Sheep Creek. Montana DEQ has announced a fourth public meeting to be held in Helena. For more information about the scoping process or talking points for comments please visit smithriverwatch.org or refer to our October 16, 2017 post.
Public Scoping Meetings and Locations
- Monday, October 30, 2017 – Great Falls Civic Center, 2 Park Drive South, Great Falls, MT
- Wednesday, November 1, 2017 – White Sulphur Springs High School Gymnasium, 405 South Central Avenue, White Sulphur Springs, MT
- Monday, November 6, 2017 – Radisson Colonial Hotel, 2301 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT
- Tuesday, November 7, 2017 – Park County High School Gymnasium, 102 View Vista Drive, Livingston, MT
All meetings are scheduled from 6-9 p.m. Stay tuned for information on ride share and bus transport option.
Written comments may also be submitted electronically to [email protected] or by mail to:
Craig Jones
Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 200901
Helena, MT 5962-0901