“Montana’s News Station” (a collection of 7 TV stations, including KAJ in Kalispell and KPAX in Missoula) has been doing a series of short segments on the proposed Cline Mine and BP coalbed methane projects in the Canadian North Fork and Elk Valley areas around Fernie, BC. They even managed to get a news crew into the area around the Cline Mine site. There are four videos posted as of today, with more scheduled. Viewing the videos requires the Internet Explorer web browser.
Category Archives: Environmental Issues
Discussion, not division, becoming the norm
From the Monday, July 21, 2008 online edition of the Missoulian . . .
Polite diplomacy appears to be trumping the historic conversation of conflict between Canadian officials intent on mining energy resources and downstream residents worried the development could taint Montana waterways.
“The nature and the tenor of the discussion are absolutely changing,” said Louisa Willcox, senior wildlife specialist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “I think it’s become far more civil, courteous and honest – and hopefully more productive.”
Read the entire article . . .
No wolf hunt this year
From the Saturday, July 19, 2008 online edition of the Missoulian . . .
A federal judge in Missoula has restored endangered species protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies, derailing plans by three states to hold public wolf hunts in the fall.
U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy granted a preliminary injunction late Friday restoring protections for wolves in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Molloy will eventually decide whether the injunction should be permanent.
Read the entire article . . .
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act turns 40
From the Thursday, July 17, 2008 online edition of the Hungry Horse News . . .
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, legislation that protects some 219 miles of waterway on the Flathead National Forest.
While the Act was passed in 1968, local rivers protected under the Act — the North Fork of the Flathead, the Middle Fork of the Flathead and the South Fork of the Flathead — were not included until 1976.
In that year, oil and gas exploration as well as Canadian coal mines were all threatening the North Fork — a situation that isn’t far removed today.
Read the entire article . . .
Mine opponents, Canadian ambassador meet
From the Wednesday, July 16, 2008 online edition of the Missoulian . . .
Environmental groups concerned that Montana water may be threatened by potential coal-bed methane extraction and expanded coal mining in southeastern British Columbia took their concerns to Canada’s ambassador to the United States.
Read the entire article . . .
Concerns grow over Plum Creek’s shift towards real estate development
There has been a lot concern over Plum Creek’s gradual shift from timber production to real estate development, particularly their recent closed-door negotiations with the Forest Service to expand permitted road easement use.
“Tester wants Plum Creek investigation,” an article in the June 25, 2008, issue of the Missoulian, provides a good overview of the situation.
A piece in the July 5, 2008, Washington Post titled “Closed-Door Deal Could Open Land In Montana” offers more information, although it is a little heavy on editorial content.
On a positive note, an article in this week’s Hungry Horse News, “Plum Creek inks massive land deal,” covers the announcement of “the largest land conservation purchase in the United States history” — the negotiated sale of about 30% of Plum Creek’s holdings in Montana to a pair of conservation groups.
Waterton Lakes park in danger?
From the Saturday, June 28, 2008 online edition of the Lethbridge Herald . . .
Southern Albertans who treasure the unspoiled qualities of Waterton Lakes National Park may believe the park
Groups seek probe into proposed coal mining
From the Friday, June 27, 2008 online edition of Forbes . . .
Possible coal mining and coal-bed methane extraction in southeastern British Columbia warrant investigation by an international board, a coalition of 11 U.S. and Canadian environmental groups said.
The groups on Thursday requested investigation by the International Joint Commission, a Canada-U.S. panel charged with preventing and resolving disputes under a 1909 water treaty. Possible contamination of water in the Flathead River system, which flows into Montana from Canada, is among the groups’ concerns.
Read the entire article . . .
Dust study finished: Now what?
From the Thursday, June 12, 2008 online edition of the Daily Inter Lake . . .
Road dust has been a Flathead County scourge for years, and residents have complained that the clouds of particulate matter were affecting their health.
The problem of road dust isn’t going away any time soon, but a University of Montana study of the North Fork Road has helped quantify the health risks. Whether that translates into immediate solutions from the county is still uncertain.
Read the entire article . . .
University study outlines dust risks
From the Tuesday, June 10, 2008 online edition of the Daily Inter Lake . . .
Two University of Montana professors revealed the results of the North Fork Road Dust Study to Flathead County commissioners Monday morning.
The conclusion: Airborne particulate matter along the road during summer months is often twice the nationally accepted amounts, which could lead to significant health problems.
Read the entire article . . .