Montana voters to decide whether to impose stricter mining standards

One of the most contentious ballot issues facing Montana voters this fall is whether to deny permits to mines that require perpetual treatment of water.

Initiative 186 received nearly 45,000 signatures to earn a spot on the ballot with a message touting the importance of clean water to Montana’s economy and health.

The initiative would prohibit the Montana Department of Environmental Quality from issuing a new mining permit unless the applicant shows “clear and convincing evidence” that the mine’s reclamation plan contains “measures sufficient to prevent the pollution of water without the need for perpetual treatment.”

Backers of I-186 Yes for Responsible Mining point to a litany of past environmental degradation from mining. Some of those include historic mining absent environmental regulations, but also more recent contamination left by bankrupt companies and insufficient reclamation bonding. The initiative is about ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated, they say, and that the legislature has failed to pass adequate legislation.

Read more: https://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/montana-voters-to-decide-whether-to-impose-stricter-mining-standards/article_0ff1ac20-e960-5fae-b4a6-54c22456baed.html