Huh. Coal Company Drains Springs, Cancels Grazing Leases; MT Ranchers Call On Evil Federal Govt.
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The four groups – Earthjustice, the Montana Environmental Information Center, Northern Plains Resource Council and the Sierra Club – claim that Signal Peak has literally undermined water for ranchers and wildlife in the Bull Mountains as it has mined for coal. That mining activity, they claim, has damaged springs that were previously productive. For example, Litsky Spring had a proven water flow of 30 gallons per minute. But after undermining in the area, or underground mining, the groups say Signal Peak and the state have abandoned monitoring the well. And when they have intermittently tested it, flows have decreased to 0.5 gallons per minute. The highest measured flow was 4 gpm.
“If immediate action is not taken, Signal Peak will continue to dramatically dewater the Bull Mountains which will in turn force ranchers and wildlife to desert the area,” said the 20-page complaint, filed by rancher Steve Charter. The complaint also said Signal Peak is forcing ranchers off the land by cancelling leases, and interrupting the water flow to as many as eight springs that provide water for cattle and wildlife.
“Signal Peak is attempting to force other area ranchers off those ranchers’ own land on the basis that the costs to Signal Peak of mitigating water and subsidence impacts are too expensive for the company,” the complaint said.
It also alleges that Signal Peak is “running ranchers out of the Bull Mountains” so it does not have to provide water, and there will be no one to chronicle the loss of water. “The fact that virtually all springs that have been undermined and assessed have shown serious and lasting impacts (which) demonstrates how much work will be required for Signal Peak to reclaim these waters,” the complaint said. “It is clear from its letter to landowners complaining about the cost of mitigating damaged water that Signal Peak does not intend to reclaim any water resources unless and until it is forced to do so. Signal Peak’s actions continue to be those of a bad actor and bad neighbor.”
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https://dailymontanan.com/2022/12/14/complaint-asks-the-federal-government-to-step-in-to-oversee-violations-at-signal-peak-mine/
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And rugged individualism were all that was needed.
