by Scott Osterman, U.S. Critical Materials
U.S. Critical Materials (“USCM”) acknowledges the recent letter submitted to the Bitterroot National Forest by Friends of the Bitterroot and several conservation organizations expressing concerns about our Sheep Creek Plan of Operations. We appreciate all stakeholders engaging in the process and share the community’s interest in the thoughtful stewardship of Montana’s public lands.
USCM is committed to transparency, environmental responsibility, and constructive dialogue as we advance exploration activities at the Sheep Creek rare earth and critical minerals project, a resource with the potential to significantly strengthen U.S. supply chains for essential elements used in clean energy, defense, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.
Addressing Specific Concerns Raised by the Community
Environmental and Health Risk Claims
We understand concerns regarding environmental impacts, including questions about naturally occurring minerals and potential health risks in the Sheep Creek area. USCM is fully committed to complying with all federal and state regulatory requirements, including robust environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and oversight by the Bitterroot National Forest and Montana Department of Environmental Quality. These processes are designed to ensure that environmental and public health protections are upheld before any ground-disturbing activities occur.
Independent Testing and Scientific Rigor
While some have called for independent testing for specific minerals in the field, it is important to recognize that any substantive fieldwork beyond permitted sampling will only occur after permitting and environmental review. We will continue to work with regulators to ensure that appropriate scientific evaluation and monitoring occur as part of the permitting process.
Commitment to Regulatory Standards and Public Input
USCM supports rigorous environmental analysis and welcomes public participation in the official scoping and permitting stages. The Plan of Operations submitted to the Forest Service will be subject to public comment and thorough review, including opportunities for stakeholders to provide input on issues of concern such as cultural resources, water quality, wildlife habitat, and potential impacts to communities downstream.
Economic and National Security Importance
Rare earth elements and gallium, both present at Sheep Creek, are indispensable to technologies that underpin modern life and U.S. national security. Today, the United States remains heavily reliant on foreign supply chains, especially from regions with elevated geopolitical risk. The Sheep Creek project represents a unique opportunity to develop a domestic, high-grade source of these critical materials, thereby reducing dependence on imported supply.
A Call for Constructive Engagement
USCM recognizes that dialogue between industry, regulators, and communities can be challenging, particularly when projects are proposed in sensitive landscapes. We are committed to engaging respectfully, openly, and constructively with all stakeholders – from local residents and elected officials to conservation groups – throughout the permitting and environmental review process.
We encourage individuals and organizations to participate in the formal scoping and comment periods administered by the U.S. Forest Service and to share their perspectives through the appropriate regulatory channels.
Bob Williams says
Look into the US Critical Materials Plan to do something they’ve never done. How they will develop and operate a mine. A carbonatite mine along the headwater of the Bitterroot River.
USCM’s Plan of Operation says this is what we would do in a year’s work. We will drill and blast solid rock and make a mile long tunnel, to haul out carbonatite ore.
Idaho may take the ore.
USFS wont take that blasted tunnel rock.
We will deliver that blasted rock to you.
You can use it for fill.
Or crush and grind it to make gravel.
But, only after environmental, and permitting, reviews, can you go sample some of that rock that is in the ground next to Sheep Creek.Take it and blast if then crush it, then grind it, while testing for airborne asbestos type fibers loosened by blasting.
Test it for gneiss needles, that like silica causes silicosis, can cause lung cancer.
Sample and test it to see if it’s Mohs 3 and 4 Hardness soft components will crush under truck traffic, and throw off dust. And maybe some day get wet and seep into waters important to life in the Bitterroot Valley.
Lets see what would happen if we all told the Ravalli County Commissioners we do not want that tunnel blasted waste rock!
And the Idaho National Laboratory is a very long way away from large scale processing of Sheep Creek carbonatite ore.