All you ever hear are the same old talking points" from Republican elected Officials when Conservationists look to prevent mineral extraction projects from going forward.............." THE GRIZ ARE COSTING OUR COMMUNITY JOBS" is the same tired mantra, repeated over and over and over again!...........Will we ever get past this man versus nature debate and figure out how to create long term jobs versus the boom/bust cycle mentality of mining?

Grizzlies Delay Montanore Mine

FLATHEAD COUNTY

By Will Wadley

LIBBY, Mont. -- Officials for a Lincoln County copper and silver mine have pushed back the mine's estimated opening date to around a year from now. The latest hang-up for the Montanore Mine, south of Libby, is over grizzly bears and how the mine might impact their habitat.

At full operating capacity, the mine could add an estimated five-hundred jobs to Libby's economy, where unemployment currently hovers around 20%. Mine officials say a long awaited supplemental draft to an environmental impact report for the mine is completed, but they are still waiting for U.S. Fish and Wildlife to finish work on a biological assessment for the mine on grizzly bears.

Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg recently sent a letter to the federal agency, urging them to complete work on the assessment soon.  "This is one of those situations where I'm writing a letter to a federal agency, saying, 'come on, get off the dime. While you may have a very protected, lucrative job at the federal level, there are people that are waiting. Let's get on with job creation and a new economy in Lincoln County,'" said Rehber
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The mine was originally permitted to operate in the early 90's, but the re-permitting process since new ownership took over in 2003 is still ongoing