Daines and Zinke urge state approval for Montanore Project

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and U.S Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) recently sent a letter to Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) supporting a speedy approval of the Montanore Project.

“We urge you to consider the benefits of a comprehensive approval for all the required permits and the benefits of the Montanore project to the local Northwest Montana community and our state,” Daines and Zinke said in the letter.

The legislators urged the MDEQ to fully approve the project, rather than seeking a phased approval of the mining operation, so that the project can move onto receiving a Records of Decision (ROD), issued by the U.S. Forest Service and the MDEQ. The Montanore Project is expected provide 450 new jobs for the community, totalling $12 million in annual payroll.

“Employing regulatory flexibility by your staff through a full permit approval will provide assurances the community and company require to move forward,” said the letter. “The local community has waited a long time for the process to be completed. We respectfully request for you to prioritize this project and for MDEQ to issue a full ROD as expeditiously as possible so that this important project can proceed.”