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GREAT NEWS
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| As you are aware, the Beartooth Alliance has been actively involved in the New World Mining District ever since Noranda proposed development of mining activities in the District in the late 1980’s. In each of our Newsletters we update you about progress in restoration of the District. In mid-March, the Trust for Public Lands (TPL) made an announcement that they had entered into agreement with Randy and Mike Holland, the late Margaret Reeb’s nephews, to purchase over 1450 acres of her mining parcels in the New World Mining District, adjacent to and north of Cooke City, for $8 million. TPL will then sell the properties to the U.S. Forest Service. It was the desire of Randy and Mike to preserve the extraordinary scenic and biologic resources of this area for continued public use and enjoyment. Bringing these mining parcels into public ownership is critical for removing the threat of further mining and development and is an incredible opportunity to preserve the primitive nature and scenic attributes of the area for all to enjoy. | ||
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Montana Senators Baucus and Tester and Congressman Rehberg have agreed to request $4 million from the Interior Department’s Land and Water Conservation Fund for each of Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010. Completion of the project requires your assistance. Because of intense competition for money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, we need you to send or fax letters of support to the senators and congressman. Fax will get to them sooner. In your letter, tell the senator/congressman how you use the Cooke City area and why you want the area protected. Let them know you encourage and support their efforts to obtain Land and Water Conservation Funds in FY2009 and FY2010 for purchase of the property. You can view a copy of the letter that the Board sent to Senator Baucus on the Beartooth Alliance website at: http://www.beartoothalliance.org/. The addresses are listed below. A copy of the letter from the BA by John Oldemeyer can be viewed by clicking here. |
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| The Honorable Max Baucus 511 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 Fax: 202-224-0515 |
The Honorable John Tester 204 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 Fax: 202-224-8594 |
516 Cannon HOBThe Honorable Denny Rehberg |
Please email me (cjoldemeyer@aol.com) a copy of your letter so that we can use that information when the senators and congressman are lobbied in person. |
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Good News on the McLaren Tailings |
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The reclamation of the McLaren Tailings is now possible to move forward thanks to an agreement between the MTDEQ and the EPA that releases Montana from liability and allows the acquisition of the Camjac Properties in accordance with the requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). It requires Camjac, Inc. to pay a total of $5,000 to the EPA Hazardous Substances Superfund and transfer the property that it owns which is apart of the Site to the State of Montana. The transfer will be done at no cost to the United States, and Montana has agreed to do the cleanup. John Koerth of MTDEQ will explain the reclamation process, time schedule, etc. to the public in Cooke City on July 10th, 2008. Please attend the meeting! As we look forward to the summer months, the BA Board of Directors has begun assembling our calendar of events. Click Here to have a look. We hope to see you all at each BA event this year! |
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