Bullock to Congressional Delegation: Preserve Funding for Abandoned Mine Lands

Governor Steve Bullock last week sent a letter to Montana’s Congressional Delegation expressing his concern about the proposal to end Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) in lieu payments to certain states and tribes, including Montana and the Crow Tribe.

“I strongly urge you to fight to preserve funding for Montana and other certified states and tribes so they can continue to create jobs, eliminate health and safety problems associated with abandoned mines, and clean up the environment,” Bullock stated in the letter.

The State of Montana has over 6,700 known abandoned mine and mill sites across the state. Montana’s abandoned mine lands programs have successfully reclaimed many of the abandoned sites, but many remain unaddressed due to lack of funding and often continue to pose a threat to human health and the environment.

Bullock concluded the letter noting that, “the AML programs have worked diligently to eliminate public health and safety hazards, restore our land and water and create jobs. I hope you will safeguard this valuable program for the good of all Montanans.”

For more information about the Abandoned Mine Lands Program, contact the Department of Environmental Quality at (406) 444-2544.