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Montana issues permits for mine on Smith River tributary over advocates’ protests
April 9, 2020/
Environmental officials on Thursday approved plans for a copper mine in central Montana that marks a major milestone in a long-running dispute. The approval likely will be challenged by environmental advocates worried about the mine’s proximity to one of the state’s most popular recreational rivers.
The head of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality told The Associated Press that the permits for the Black Butte Copper Project near a tributary of the Smith River are the most stringent ever issued for a hardrock mine in Montana. DEQ director Shaun McGrath cautioned against judging the project against historical mines in the state that are now Superfund sites.
If the Black Butte Copper Mine is approved, there’s high potential for acid mine drainage in Sheep Creek that could severely impact the Smith River’s water quality and wild trout fishery for generations. Even though phase one of the mine would be located on private land, the mine must be designed in a way that won’t pollute water quality if it’s eventually built.
