Final Draft Biological Opinions issued for Montanore

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LibbyMt.com > News > February 2014 > Final Draft Biological Opinions issued for Montanore

Final Draft Biological Opinions issued for Montanore
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
February 27, 2014
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued Final Draft Biological Opinions (BO) for the Montanore Silver-Copper Project, a critical step in the overall permitting process. In the Final Draft the USFWS made a preliminary determination that a non-jeopardy decision can be made under the terms and conditions spelled out in the aquatics and terrestrial BO's.

In addition, the USFWS has issued a letter to Congressman Steve Daines and Congressman Doc Hastings (Chairman of the House Natural Resource Committee) indicating that the agency is targeting March 31, 2014 to issue the Final BO for the project.

With the pending completion of the BO process, the few steps remaining include issuance of the Final Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and issuance of a Draft Record of Decision (ROD). Following issuance of the Draft ROD, completion of the Final ROD involves an objection and resolution process newly adopted by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for projects on public lands that has regulatory time controls, and may be limited to 120 days at which point, the Company will be fully authorized to advance the project as approved by the agencies.

Upon issuance of the Final ROD, and upon arrangement of funding, Mines Management plans to initiate preparations for an underground infill drilling program. Results from the infill drilling program are intended to support the final analysis and detailed engineering as part of the final feasibility study.
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By Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net, www.klcb-ktny.com.

LibbyMt.com > News > February 2014 > Final Draft Biological Opinions issued for Montanore

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