MMI to open Montanore tunnel seal

The Montanore Mine tunnel south of Libby could see the light of day for the first time in more than a decade as early as next week, a Mines Management Inc. executive told the Lincoln County Commissioners on Wednesday.

The company has received notice of approval from state officials on a permit revision that will allow the exploration adit to be reopened to allow testing to begin on updated water treatment plans for the project, said Mines Management vice president of operations Eric Klepfer. The company will be moving quickly to get into the tunnel and begin taking water samples, he said.

"I would expect it's going to take us three to five days to get to the plug and get it opened and see what's behind it," he said.

Started by Noranda Minerals, the silver and copper mine was fully permitted in 1993 but was mothballed the following year due to falling metals prices. Spurred by rising prices, Mines Management began working in 2002 to re-permit the mine.

After water samples have been tested, the company hopes to gain access to the tunnel for more extensive work to get the mine ready for operation. That will include removing water from the tunnel, rehabilitating the tunnel and drilling back to the ore body. Klepfer said he hopes to have the necessary permit revision approved in time for a September start.

The company plans to hire 30 to 50 people for work at the mine by the end of the year. A local hire rate of 80 percent is targeted.

Klepfer said the company already knows of about 30 experienced miners from the area who are interested in jobs.

"Some of them are in Nevada, and some of them are in Alaska and in various places," he said.

Mines Management is working with the Forest Service on other issues required to re-permit the mine and is hoping to have full project approval in 2007, Klepfer said. An estimated 250 to 300 permanent employees would be needed to operate the mine for 15 to 20 years. Jobs would pay $40,000 to $50,000 a year and include benefit packages equal to 30 percent of the salary.

Before shutting down operations, Noranda had completed 14,000 feet of the exploration adit, tunneling beneath the Cabinet Mountains. The tunnel begins where Libby Creek exits the Cabinets and is estimated to be 2,000 feet short of the silver and copper deposit.