In Montana, where author Norman Maclean was haunted
by moving waters, a new coalition of sportsmen, ranchers and
environmentalists hopes voters will approve a fall ballot
initiative toughening the state’s water quality laws. If passed,
the initiative could create significant new challenges for two
large-scale mining projects, one proposed for a site near
Yellowstone National Park, the other near the headwaters of the
Blackfoot River.
The coalition, which calls
itself Montanans for Clean Water, says its initiative is a moderate
response to the 1995 Legislature’s lowering of water-quality
standards. The mining industry says the initiative is
anti-mining.
Gary Buchanan, former director of
the Montana Department of Commerce and co-chair of the coalition
with rancher Francis Bardanouve, disagrees. “Neither Francis nor I
would be involved if we felt the initiative would kill all mining
in Montana,” he says. Buchanan says the new standards would require
modern mines to use the best available technologies to protect
state waters.
Once state officials approve the
initiative’s wording, the group has until June 21 to gather
signatures of 20,392 registered voters.
Duncan
Adams
Copyright © 1996 HCN and Duncan Adams
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Montanans take to the ballot.
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