mining

The state is looking for public comment on a potential tungsten mine in the Flint Creek Range of southwest Montana. Comments will be accepted until Friday, Aug. 14.

The Sheep Creek Mine in Ravalli County is on the federal list of fast-tracked projects. That could mean faster permitting, along with scaled-down public input and environmental review. As one company looks for rare earth minerals, local residents, county commissioners and federal representatives remain opposed to the project, citing concerns over impacts to the watershed.

After a century of mining pollution that tinged their creek in orange, Belt residents are finally seeing clear water flow again. It’s one example in Montana’s long effort to clean up its abandoned mines with federal funds.

Mining company executives interested in gold near Lincoln met with locals this week to discuss their exploration plans. Australian mining company, Sentinel Metals, has applied for a permit to drill 21 holes on private land just east of Lincoln, the first step in determining if there is enough gold to build a mine.

A small company operating in western Montana has been tasked with supplying the federal government with a critical mineral. The project raises hopes and concerns for locals who have experienced the impacts of mining industries in western Montana.

The U.S. Secretary of the Interior met with mining executives and local government officials at the site of the largest Superfund complex in the world to discuss how to revitalize Montana’s former mining hub.

Bull Mountain Land Alliance and Northern Plains Resource Council accuse the state of violating the Constitution by changing coal mine permits without public input. In their lawsuit, they point to more than 300 changes made to the permit for the Bull Mountains Mine in south central Montana since the early 2000s.

Gov. Greg Gianforte joined mining executives from the U.S. Antimony Corporation for a groundbreaking ceremony in Thompson Falls. Antimony is considered a “critical mineral” that’s used to develop military equipment.

The Environmental Protection Agency last month proposed to increase cleanup of residential lead contamination in Butte.

Montana environmental officials may cut ties with a bankrupt mine operator near Helena and seek out a new company to operate the site.