ENVIRO

IF YOU TREASURE THE SMITH RIVER, NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.

proposed underground copper mine along Sheep Creek in the Smith River’s headwaters took a big step forward when the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on March 11. Despite the fact that the Black Butte copper mine would be located in the Smith’s headwaters and the rock in which the copper ore is located is highly prone to creating acid mine drainage, the DEIS concluded the mine would have “no impact to water quality, air quality or aquatic resources.” The Montana DEQ’s conclusion stands in stark contrast to what American Rivers’ expert mining consultants have said. In a guest blog published in August 2016,Tyler Shepherd wrote that the Black Butte copper mine would “irreparably contaminate the Smith River.”The copper mine is being proposed by Sandfire Resources America. It would be located on 1,888 acres of leased private ranch lands adjacent to and underneath Sheep Creek, the most important trout spawning tributary. During the scoping phase of the EIS, American Rivers generated more than 8,000 public comments. Now that the draft EIS has been released, they’ve set a goal of generating 20,000 comments opposing this dangerous mine.