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Proposed mine would throttle Montana wilderness

Urge the U.S. Forest Service, Montana DEQ to protect grizzlies and bull trout against the Montanore mine

TAKE ACTION

Click here to urge the Forest Service and Montana DEQ to protect grizzlies, and bull trout against the Montanaore mine

Dear Alice Diane,

Two mines, one wilderness
Only 20-30 grizzly bears remain in and around the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in northwest Montana. These bears are hanging on by a thread. Biologists say they can't survive the loss of habitat from one mine, let alone two!

Yet, two massive copper and silver mines are in the works. If approved, these mines will jeopardize the wilderness area, degrade rivers and lakes, and harm important wildlife species! The Bush Administration has already given the green light to the proposed Rock Creek Mine.

Now the Forest Service is considering approval of the Montanore Mine.

Undermining wilderness lakes
The Montanore mine will intercept ground water in the region and divert it into the mine's underground tunnels. Rivers and lakes that rely on this groundwater will suffer the consequences -- including alpine lakes in the Wilderness.

Bull trout at risk
The US Fish and Wildlife found that the Rock Creek mine would likely wipe out the bull trout fishery in Rock Creek. Now, the Montanore Mine is predicted to dewater and degrade the East Fork of Bull River - the most important bull trout stronghold in the region.

Pollution in perpetuity
The proposed Montanore Mine is predicted to generate 13 million gallons a year of polluted mine water in perpetuity.

TAKE ACTION
Enough is enough! Send a letter to the U.S Forest Service and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Speak out on behalf of wilderness, water quality and wildlife!

Thanks for taking action,
Bonnie Gestring and Alan Septoff, EARTHWORKS

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Go to the action page.
• Read the sample letter at page bottom and edit it if possible. Customized letters have greater impact.
• Click "send my message" to send your message to the Forest Service and Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
• For more information, go to the action page.