From the Wednesday, August 15, 2007 online edition of the Daily Inter Lake . . .
Occasionally, we get correspondence from our good neighbors to the north, claiming that Montanans are hypocritical in opposing mine development in the Canadian Flathead when there is active mine development elsewhere in Montana.
Well, yes, it is true that there is mining in Montana. Gov. Brian Schweitzer is pursuing coalbed methane development as well as coal-to-liquid fuel projects in southeastern Montana. There are also precious metal mines in Montana that are gradually moving forward, despite controversy.
So how can Montanans have the nerve to be concerned about coal extraction in British Columbia’s Flathead drainage?
Read the entire article . . .
This guest commentary by Dan Short, Treasurer of Montana Trout Unlimited, appeared in the Friday, August 10, 2007 online editions of the Flathead Beacon, the Missoulian and possibly other newspapers around Montana . . .
As the treasurer of Montana Trout Unlimited, I write to express our organization’s serious concern regarding potential coal bed methane extraction and open pit coal mining at the headwaters of Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.
Montana TU is a grassroots organization comprised of nearly 3,400 sportsmen and sportswomen who love to fish for native trout in our state’s clean, cold mountain waters. Recent years have been hard on our dwindling native fish. It is incumbent upon all Montanans to take proactive steps to ensure future generations have the same opportunities to enjoy our state’s legacy of great trout fishing.
Recent studies by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks verify that significant numbers of native trout in the Flathead River basin cross the border into Canada. Westslope cutthroat trout that live most of their lives in the United States spawn in British Columbia. As a result, industrial coal field development in the Canadian Flathead has the potential to significantly harm Flathead River trout populations.
Read the entire article . . .
From the Thursday, August 9, 2007 online edition of the Daily Inter Lake . . .
British Petroleum has formally applied for an exploration permit for coal-bed methane gas in the Flathead and Elk River drainages of southeastern British Columbia, a provincial liaison to the Flathead Basin Commission said Wednesday.
And a representative for Gov. Brian Schweitzer announced that the administration intends to organize a Montana-British Columbia Symposium late this year as part of an effort to revive discussions over the future of the transboundary Flathead drainage.
Kathy Eichenberger, representing the B.C. Ministry of Environment, said BP has applied for an exploratory permit. She subsequently was peppered with questions at a basin commission meeting in Somers.
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From the Thursday, August 9, 2007 online edition of the Bigfork Eagle . . .
The interconnectivity of northwest Montana's water sources serve as a double-edged sword.
On one hand, the connections promote a diverse ecosystem and help filter pollutants. On the other hand, large disturbances can impact massive areas.
Dr. Richard Hauer's lecture, titled "Critical linkages in our waterscapes: River, groundwater and lake connections," showed the intricate web of Flathead's water systems.
This connectivity is one reason Dr. Hauer said the mining proposals in British Columbia are such a threat. The proposed coal mine and coal bed methane exploration sites are located at the head of the North Fork of the Flathead River in Canada, which is just 22 miles from the border.
Read the entire article . . .
From the Wednesday, August 8, 2007 online edition of The Globe and Mail . . .
As two coal-based mining projects begin to move ahead in British Columbia, an effort by the province and neighbouring Montana to work together on the environmental effects of mining has cooled off.
Nearly two years after the two jurisdictions began work on a way to deal with cross-border concerns over proposed resource developments, there is still no approved plan, and no formal talks are scheduled.
Meanwhile, a metallurgical coal mine and a potential $3-billion coal bed methane project are moving ahead, although both are at very early stages.
"We're at a little bit of an impasse, but we haven't given up," said John van Dongen, B.C. Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations. "We're working on it."
Mike Volesky, natural resources adviser to Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, wouldn't call it an impasse, but he confirmed there have been no formal talks since December, 2006. He was uncertain whether the dialogue could be restarted before the fall.
Read the entire article . . .
The Fire Information Links page has been updated. It provides links to local fire news, maps, reports, status, imagery and weather.
About 70% of the links had to be changed. (Apparently, a large swathe of the U.S. government indulged in a web site rebuilding frenzy over the past year.) The information is basically the same, but has moved around quite a bit.
As in past years, the Daily Inter Lake continues to be the best general news source for local fire information.
The Fire Information Links page is always available in the "NFPA Site Links" area in the upper left corner of this page.
From the Wednesday, August 1, 2007 online edition of the Flathead Beacon . . .
Representatives of several northwestern states including Montana, Canadian provinces, and large corporations converged on Anchorage, Alaska last week to attend the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region’s annual summit.
But the event’s corporate sponsors, some of which seek to develop mining projects in the Canadian Flathead, have spurned protests by a state elected official and public advocacy group.
Read the entire article . . .