Rock Creek Mine adit plan OK'd

SANDPOINT — The U.S. Forest Service is issuing a final Record of Decision for the inaugural phase of the proposed Rock Creek Mine in northwestern Montana.

The final ROD’s issuance clears the way for RC Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Hecla Mining Co., to develop an evaluation adit for the underground copper and silver mine near Noxon.

“This is an important first step in moving forward with this project,” Kootenai National Forest Supervisor Chris Savage said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “This project has been in the planning phase for a long time and I am happy to issue the decision to start the first phase of the project.”

The evaluation shaft will tunnel beneath the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness in Sanders County so the Rock Creek ore body can be assessed, which will aid in the development of the mine. Data on rock mechanics, hydrology and geochemical features will be gathered and bulk ore samples can also be extracted for metallurgical testing, according to the 350-page final ROD.

The second and final phase of the project, which hasn’t been approved yet, involves development of the mine itself.

At full build-out, the mine is expected to create 600 jobs and produce more than 3.5 million tons of copper and silver ore per year. The mine is expected to be viable for more than 30 years.

Prior to the commencement of the initial phase, RC Resources is required to develop monitoring plans for subsidence, water resources, grizzly bear and bull trout. The company will also have to submit a reclamation performance bond for the adit.

Since the project’s inception in 1987, the Rock Creek Mine has been intensely debated in Bonner County. While some welcome the prospect of more industrial-sector jobs in the region, others oppose the project because it would mar the wilderness, further jeopardize threatened and endangered species, and harm water quality. Treated wastewater from the mine would be discharged into the Clark Fork River, which flows into Lake Pend Oreille.

The Rock Creek Alliance, which opposes the mining proposal, said they were not fazed by the issuance of the ROD. The group said the deputy regional forester had previously announced his intention to instruct Savage to issue a decision on the first phase only.

Mary Costello of Rock Creek Alliance said such an approach acknowledges a “certain level of uncertainty” regarding impacts from a fully developed mine.

“While we agree that there is a large amount of uncertainty related to geochemistry and water quality impacts, we think there is more than information to deny a permit based on impacts to Outstanding Resource Waters within the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness from de-watering, and from impacts to threatened bull trout and grizzly bears. In addition to these type of impacts, which are illegal under state and federal laws, we think the risks to Lake Pend Oreille from perpetual pollution are simply too great. So while not surprised, we are disappointed. Our attorneys will be carefully reviewing the ROD,” Costello said in a statement.

RC Resources, which maintains that it can extract the ore without degrading the environment, said the decision ends more than seven years of environmental analysis, which began in 2011 in response to the last round of project litigation.

“RC Resources and the U.S. Forest Service have dedicated thousands of hours to reach this point. We appreciate the hard work and perseverance shown by the U.S. Forest Service and their contractor,” Doug Stiles, RC Resource’s general manager, said in a statement.

RC Resources said litigation against filed by the state of Montana at the urging of its governor and environmental regulators created uncertainty about the company’s ability to operate in that state. With the ROD in place, RC plans to expeditiously complete the operating, monitoring and mitigation plans required by the Forest Service so it can begin exploration activities.

“Our goal is to have everything in place so that when the courts uphold our right to operate in Montana, we are ready to put Montanans to work. If not for the actions of the state, we could possibly have broken ground ans early as this year,” Stiles said.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.