Enviromental Stewardship

Montana Resources strives to maintain high standards of environmental stewardship. We meet or exceed all state and federal regulations for metal and particulate emissions as well as water discharge and land reclamation standards. Montana Resources’ commitment to environmental protection includes monitoring the local air and water quality as well as the acid generating capacity of all excavated material. We strive to innovate new processes and utilize newer, more efficient technologies that consequently lessen the impact of mining on the environment.

Air Quality

Our commitment to the community includes minimizing the dust in the air from the mining process. We reduce the amount of dust in the air through revegetation and land reclamation. Additionally, water trucks spray the dirt roads to prevent the trucks from stirring up dust. We've also bought bigger haul trucks, so we can transport more tons in fewer trips, resulting in less dust and lower diesel emissions.

Water

To conserve water, the water used in the flotation process is recycled back into the operation. Water from the concentrating process is pumped to the tailings pond. After the sandy tailings settle out, the water is returned to the process to be used again and again. Montana Resources also monitors water level and conditions in the Berkeley Pit. Montana Resources together with ARCO funds the Berkeley Pit Public Education Committee. We also discourage waterfowl from landing in the pit water in a program approved by the US EPA and MDEQ.

Waste Rock

Once the waste rock is identified, it is hauled to either a waste rock repository or the tailings dam. Presently all of Modern Resources' waste rock repositories are designed to prevent the generation of acid mine drainage. The waste rock containing high sulfide materials is encapsulated inside the repository then capped, contoured and revegetated.