Rock Creek project moves forward
The Rock Creek Mine project took a regulatory step forward Tuesday, when the United States Forest Service issued the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The supplemental statement was prepared in response to a court remand order requiring the Kootenai National Forest to correct three procedural errors in a 2001 Record of Decision for the project.
“In the case, the U.S. District Court found deficiencies in the 2001 Rock Creek Project Final EIS and directed a new SEIS and Record of Decision be prepared,” Forest Supervisor Chris Savage wrote in the cover letter. “The deficiencies found by the U.S. District Court are that the Final EIS: 1) failed to clearly require Revett Silver Company, now RCR, to implement the sediment source reduction measures during Phase 1 of the project; 2) did not consider supplemental information about bull trout populations and habitat in a National Environmental Policy Act document; and 3) did not clearly show effects on Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas. In addition, to ensure a complete analysis of the proposed mining project, the SEIS will update other resource analyses if there are significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and directly relate to the proposed action or its impacts. Kootenai National Forest will use the analysis in the SEIS to determine whether to issue approvals necessary for construction and operation of the Rock Creek project.”
The Rock Creek Mine, located near Noxon in Sanders County, is expected to employ 340 full-time equivalent employees and has a predicted mine life of between 33 and 38 years. It is owned by RCR, a wholly-owned division of Hecla Mining, who acquired the former Revett Silver Company in 2015.
Hecla’s vice president for external affairs, Luke Russell, said the company hasn’t finished analyzing the document, but is very pleased with the release of the document.
“Obviously we’re very happy the Forest Service has gotten to this milestone,” he said. “We haven’t finished going over the document yet, but we’re happy to be moving forward.”
Montana State Senator Chas Vincent of Libby said he is glad to see the project closing in on the post-litigation finish line.
“This supplemental EIS, a response to three procedural NEPA errors on the 2003 Rock Creek ROD, represents the last steps of the long and arduous litigation cycles that are an unfortunate reality these days,” he said. “With the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals already upholding the Biological Opinion for the Rock Creek project, the SEIS being out for public comment is great news for northwest Montana. I hope that everyone supportive of responsible development takes the time to comment in support of the project.”
The draft triggers a public comment period which is scheduled to end April 4, 2016. Russell said Hecla representatives have tentatively scheduled a public meeting tour of the area for the second week of March. The company, he said, will be holding public meetings to help inform the public about the mine and the issues surrounding it.
Russell extended his appreciation to the Forest Service for the agency’s diligence in helping move the project forward.
“We think the Forest Service has worked diligently to put a good document out,” he said. “We’re not sure of all that is in it yet, but we’re confident. This is a great milestone for us and for this project.”