Agency issues first bi-weekly update to apprise community of its efforts

An email Bruce Vincent received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Oct. 18 was “big news” as much for the fact that it was sent as for what it contained, the local economic development consultant said.

The agency described the email as “the first of a bi-weekly community update” regarding its consulting work on Hecla Mining Company’s proposed Montanore and Rock Creek mines.

“This effort was prompted by interest from citizens, primarily in Lincoln County, regarding the status of this effort and urging prompt environmental review,” the letter states.

“Clearly, the agency has heard and is heeding the request from the community to prioritize and complete required analysis in months instead of years,” Vincent said via email.

He’s referring to recent efforts local leaders have made to move forward the permitting processes for both mines, which have been stalled both by litigation and by the Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies’ abilities to respond.

These efforts most notably included a delegation comprising Vincent and five others that traveled to Washington, D.C. in late July “to drive home the need to staff those agencies so their work can be accomplished and the projects can move forward,” Lincoln County Commissioner and delegation member Jerry Bennett said at the time.

More recently, on Sept. 15 the Libby Area Chamber of Commerce, on whose board Vincent sits, released a letter of support for the two mines that pressed for “the expeditious analysis of the issues surrounding final approval of the Montanore and Rock Creek mining proposals that are of critical importance to the economic future of northwest Montana,” according to a Chamber news release.

Vincent said the email from the Fish and Wildlife Service indicates that “They have also clearly heard that we expect the community’s partners in these projects” — the Forest Service and Hecla Mining Company, in addition to the Fish and Wildlife Service — “to be pulling on the same rope moving forward, and they are working together to get across the finish line.”

According to the email, which covers the time period of Oct. 2 to Oct. 13, recent actions include:

“On October 12, 2017, the (Fish and Wildlife) Service biologist began reviewing the Rock Creek consultation information. He thoroughly reviewed documents regarding the Rock Creek mine and highlighted points needed to be addressed regarding the upcoming BO (biological opinion). The Service biologist then began reviewing the supplemental Rock Creek BA (biological assessment) to make sure no additional information was necessary in order to complete the consultation.”

“On October 10, 2017, a conference call was held between the Service and the (Forest Service) to discuss the state of the Hecla Mines consultations. The primary focus was to ensure that we were communicated accurate updates to the public.”

Though the email indicates it was developed as a joint effort with the Forest Service, Vincent contacted the latter agency asking if it could “issue a similar update from their perspective so we can support them and their efforts.” Chris Savage, supervisor of the Kootenai National Forest, told Vincent he would consider providing a similar monthly update.