The rest of the story
Due to recent negative assertions publicly made by Glenn Dobbs, leveled at Revett, I feel it is necessary to set the record straight.
One only needs a short review of history to see what MMI/MMC (Mines Management Inc., also Montanore Minerals Corp.) is trying to do; leap frog their way through the permitting process.
Back in 1993, Noranda did in fact complete permitting of the Montanore Project and then began development of the Libby Creek Adit.
During this period of time, ASARCO was in the process of permitting the Rock Creek Project.
In 2002, due to water quality violations and also citing economic reasons, Noranda abandoned the project (notifying numerous agencies in writing including the USFS, MDEQ and the Corps of Engineers just to mention a few) while again, the Rock Creek permitting continued.
Revett purchased the Troy Mine and the Rock Creek property in 1999 and completed the Rock Creek permitting in 2003.
Subsequent legal challenges from environmental groups, causing significant delays, resulted in additional studies that are now complete. Rock Creek is permitted.
However, in March of 2006, MMI sent a letter challenging the conclusion reached by the USFS and the USFWS, that the Montanore Project had in fact been abandoned, thus delaying the Rock Creek project by at least nine months.
Both Montana and federal statutes are clear that once a project is abandoned (and Noranda clearly did so), any operating authority once granted no longer exists. It's clear cut.
The permitting process must start over (from the beginning, not the end). We're not trying to stop anyone's project.
We're only trying to make sure that a consistent and diligent permitting process is followed, for any new project, which is the only way the final decisions can be defended.
In short, because of overlapping issues related to grizzly bears, cumulative effects and implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), MMI is trying to leap frog the Montanore Project ahead of the Rock Creek project. Plain and simple.
That Dobb's is over-selling and misleading the public regarding the permitting status of his project is incontestable.
Clear back in June of 2005 the U.S. Forest Service sent a scolding letter to MMI after reading a news release and other articles based on misleading statements by management.
The then supervisor of the Kootenai National Forest wrote “I am concerned that these articles and your press release provide the public with an incorrect statement of the agencies' commitments and an unrealistic portrayal of the timelines required to analyze and reach a decision on your project.”
He added, “In summary, I ask that you modify your characterization of the timelines and in particular your statement that the KNF has entered into an MOA with you to complete the EIS and permitting of your project by July 21, 2006.”
Pretty clear and straight forward statements by the Forest Service.