BILL CUNNINGHAM
TOM PEDERSEN
The Montana Conservation Elders (MCE) is a nonpartisan group whose members share three fundamental attributes: weâre seniors, weâre Montanans, and we have each lived a part of Montanaâs rich conservation history. And we want to share our stories to inspire the next generation of Montana conservation leaders through a variety of education initiatives including the adoption of Montana conservation history in school curriculum.
Like most Montanans we are fiercely independent and are thus not beholden to any one organization. At the same time our individual members have strong ties to Montanaâs leading conservation groups. This allows us to stay relevant to the ever-changing politics of conservation while maintaining a broad, long-range perspective.
Guest opinion: Conservation elders cautiously optimistic billingsgazette.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from billingsgazette.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Yesterday,
 the Montana Supreme Court dealt a final blow to Lucky Mineralâs appeal for rights to drill for gold right outside the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park in Montana. In the ruling, the Court found that the stateâs decision to permit mineral exploration overlooked harm to wildlife and failed to provide a plan to prevent pollution of groundwater and streams. The justices further ruled unanimously that a provision in Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) that stripped Montanans of the ability to stop such unlawful projects was unconstitutional. This outcome will have far-reaching impacts on challenges to mining and other industrial projects in Montana.
The Montana Supreme Court has denied an appeal brought by Canadian mining company Lucky Minerals, effectively voiding its permit to conduct exploratory drilling for gold in a remote area north of Yellowstone National Park.
Tuesday’s ruling marked the
culmination of a years-long campaign to prevent mining in the Emigrant Gulch area. Popularized by a “Yellowstone is more valuable than gold” rallying cry, the campaign garnered endorsements from more than 400
local businesses and drew support from
the U.S. Department of Interior
and U.S. Congress.
In siding with plaintiffs Park County Environmental Council and Greater Yellowstone Coalition, the state Supreme Court unanimously reaffirmed a lower court’s 2018 ruling that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality did not conduct adequate analysis on the potential environmental impacts of exploratory drilling operations in Emigrant Gulch.
Lawyers, lobbyists expect Montana Supreme Court mining decision could have broader impact bozemandailychronicle.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bozemandailychronicle.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.