by Larry Campbell, Darby
In spite of being listed as a FAST 41 “Transparency” Project, the only thing transparent about the Sheep Creek mine has been years of public deception by mining company US Critical Materials.
In a newspaper article on May 2, 2024, Ed Cowle, a director of the management team for USCM said the company soon plans to reach out to locals to talk about plans to mine Rare Earth Elements at Sheep Creek mine at the head of the Bitterroot River to address some of the opposition, and announced it may open up a local office.
“We thought the smart thing and the right thing would be … to reach out and give some presentations,” he said. “And I think that will be happening very soon.”
On 3/28/26, a newspaper article wrote, “As the face of Critical Materials at the meeting, Osterman acknowledged at the time that his company had been slow to court a skeptical public. He vowed to engage an “advisory board” of local residents, though he said as of March that hadn’t happened yet. By the end of May, Osterman said the company plans to establish a board with “the appropriate representation from all sectors” ranging the spectrum of support for the company’s project.” “We’re just barely into this and we’re trying to do the best we can at this stage,” Osterman said. “It seems like it’s going to be enough economic value that it’s worthwhile moving forward, so now we start the real effort.”
“That’s going to include determining baseline environmental conditions in the project area and launching more public engagement, he added, including a local office and the forthcoming launch of a website about the project.”
As of April Fool’s Day 2026, “the smart thing and the right thing” has still not been done; there’s still no local public engagement or website by USCM or local USCM office.
Remember the quote: “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” USCM claims new, improved mining techniques will protect the Bitterroot while they remove their corporate profits. Don’t believe a thing USCM says.
Don Shepherd says
Well done, Larry. Thank You. We don’t need more public engagement. We don’t need test results. We don’t care about their ‘new plan’ since they have messed up from the inception of the project. This project is DEAD. We will never let it happen, so let’s get busy!! New Federal Reps up for election. and we need to press them for their position and make sure they understand! But we can’t stop there.