by Doug Hatchimonji, Hamilton
It was a heartwarming and breathtaking demonstration of community – on a workday afternoon 500 plus people jammed into the fairgrounds event center to bring voice, by their presence and words, to their opinions about the Sheep Creek mine. In the end, the Ravalli county commissioners voted to send a letter in opposition to the inclusion of the mine on the federal fast track list. The next day, Congressman Zinke and Senator Sheehy jumped on the bandwagon joining in the request for removal of the mine from the fast track.
But is that all the people of the community were saying, only to take Sheep Creek off the fast track? Or were the majority of the people opposing the existence of the mine altogether? The strongest voice in opposition that afternoon, Heather Barber of the Bitterroot Water Partnership, did not limit the organization’s opposition only to the fast tracking of the mine, she opposed the very existence of the mine today and for the future generation, her four-year old son.
I urge our county commissioners and Congressman Zinke to stand tall, proud and loud and oppose the very existence of the Sheep Creek mine, whatever the timeline that might potentially bring it to our valley.
I also urge Congressman Zinke, Senator Sheehy and Senator Daines to not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk, by vigorously and meaningfully interceding with President Trump’s administration to disapprove of this mine. After all, as the elected federal representatives of Montanans they are duty-bound to take this action on the people’s behalf.
The Sheep Creek mine: not fast, not slow, not ever.