The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has declared that Tintina Montana’s application is complete for its proposed Black Butte Mine, on a tributary of the Smith River.

DEQ will next develop an environmental impact statement to look at the potential environmental and social impacts the mine could have. To prepare, DEQ is holding public scoping meetings to determine what issues the EIS will study.

The Great Falls meeting is today, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at the Civic Center, 2 Park Drive S.

More information on the proposed mine is available here.

The proposed underground mine would be located approximately 19 miles north of White Sulphur Springs in Meagher County in west-central Montana.

 

Tintina applied to DEQ for an operating permit for the Black Butte Copper Project on Dec. 15, 2015 under the Metal Mine Reclamation Act. DEQ determined that, under state law, Tintina’s application was complete and compliant and, on Sept. 18, 2017, issued Tintina a draft operating permit for the Black Butte Copper Project.

DEQ is preparing an EIS under the Montana Environmental Policy Act that will analyze the potential impacts of the proposed underground mine. This EIS will also serve as the MEPA review for other potential permits that may be issued by DEQ, including an air quality permit, a public water supply permit, and a surface water discharge permit.

The first phase in preparing an EIS is to conduct “scoping” to determine the scope of the EIS. DEQ is asking the public for comments to help identify issues that are likely to involve significant impacts and possible alternatives to be considered in the EIS. The scoping period began Oct. 2 and ends Nov. 16.

The permit application is available for the public to view at DEQ’s main office in Helena (1520 East 6^th Avenue). The application may also be viewed by visiting DEQ’s website (http://deq.mt.gov/Land/hardrock/tintinamines).

Scoping comments may be submitted at one of the public meetings, electronically (deqtintinablackbuttecopperproject@mt.gov), or by postal mail to the following address:

Craig Jones

Department of Environmental Quality

P.O. Box 200901

Helena, MT 59620-0901

Questions on the environmental review may also be directed to Jones electronically at crajones@mt.gov or 406-444-0514. Comments must be submitted to DEQ no later than Nov. 16.

DEQ will not accept comments that are threatening, defamatory, libelous, slanderous, or discriminatory in nature. The DEQ will make reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities who wish to participate in the meeting. If you require an accommodation, contact Jeni Garcin at 406-444-6469 or jgarcin@mt.gov.