BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Stalled work on a major copper mine proposed in central Montana can proceed after the state’s Supreme Court docket dominated Monday that officers had adequately reviewed the undertaking’s environmental results.
The courtroom’s 5-2 determination overturns a 2022 decrease courtroom ruling that successfully blocked work on the Black Butte mine north of White Sulphur Springs by revoking its allow.
Attorneys for Montana Trout Limitless and different conservation teams claimed the mine’s allow from the Division of Environmental High quality, or DEQ, was illegal.
“We’re glad that DEQ made a reasoned determination,” Justice Beth Baker wrote in Monday’s 65-page majority opinion. She added that state officers “made a scientifically pushed allowing determination that was supported by substantial proof,” together with engineering experiences, scientific research and comparisons with different mines around the globe.
The underground mine sponsored by Vancouver-based Sandfire Sources is proposed alongside a tributary of the Smith River, a waterway so well-liked amongst boaters that the state holds an annual lottery to resolve who can float down it.
State officers had argued that the mine’s allow included necessities that may shield the river.
Preliminary work on the website together with some street building started in 2021. It is being constructed on personal land and would extract 15.3 million tons of copper-laden rock and waste over 15 years — roughly 440 tons a day.
Opponents say the waste materials will threaten water high quality and trout populations within the Smith River. A separate problem of the mine’s water allow is pending.
“Our struggle to guard the Smith will not be over,” stated David Brooks with Montana Trout Limitless. “We’ll proceed to pursue our coalition’s claims of unlawful water use by the mine.”
Sandfire Sources Vice President Nancy Schlepp stated the corporate had been unable to do any work underground pending decision of the case earlier than the excessive courtroom.
She stated the timeline for building and the way it will likely be financed had been nonetheless being mentioned by the corporate’s board of administrators.
