EDITORIAL: I-186 is a bad idea for Monatna

In a little under a week, voters in Montana will go to the polls to decide the fate of Ballot Initiative I-186. Simply put, I-186 is a horrible idea for the state. It could not only have a detrimental affect on all of Montana, the consequences would be even more dire in the Whitehall area.

Montana is a state that has the proper balance between environmental protection and economic prosperity and this initiative threatens to upset this in a devastating way through the loss of jobs and a direct blow to the economy. With the recently approved APEX project (read more next week), the Barrick Golden Sunlight mine will continue to mine underground into the future and this is such a benefit for the Whitehall area. The local mine is a tremendous neighbor. Not only does their revenue help with schools, infrastructure and other necessity’s, the Golden Sunlight Mine goes above and beyond to play a significant role locally. Throughout the year they give generously to organizations like the Jefferson Valley Community Foundation and Whitehall Chamber of Commerce, both who work to improve the qualify of life locally. Those two organizations are just a small sample of just what they do for the community.

The pro I-186 web page state “In Montana, our way of life depends on clean water. Help protect our rivers and streams”. A perfect way to examine this issue would be to look at the Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine in Whitehall. In a Letter to the Editor in the October 24 edition of the Whitehall Ledger, John Kountz, President of the Jefferson River Watershed Council, states “Barrick’s direct involvement to help improve and sustain the Jefferson River fishery through a proactive Drought Management Plan with local agriculture producers has restored and maintained the Jefferson River fishery even in extended drought periods. The partnership is successful due to active stream monitoring for flow and temperature coupled with voluntary irrigation reductions with cooperating canal companies”. That certainly sounds like a mine that is committed to protecting rivers and streams.

The Stop I-186 campaign states “I-186 is a very real and significant threat to the economic viability of Montana’s mining industry as it has the potential to not only prevent future mines from being permitted but could also freeze future investment in our state. With Montana’s world-class environmental protections, modernized mining techniques, and exhaustive permitting process, I-186 is unnecessary and will severely impact Montana’s state and local economy.” The passing of I-186 would not be good, not good at all.

Protecting the environment is very important, and what needs to be realized is the mining operations, especially the Golden Sunlight Mine are playing their part to do this. The Golden Sunlight Mine not only does what is required of them, they go a step further. This is an unnecessary initiative, backed by many out-of-state donors, it doesn’t make sense for the people who actually live here.