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FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2003

A bill that was meant to help clean up abandoned mines near the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana was killed on Thursday.

State Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, said a version that passed out of a House committee lost its teeth. He sought to leverage existing state royalty funds to pay for cleanup of the minds but another lawmaker changed to prevent the use of state funds until the federal government ponied up money first.

"This bill does nothing," said Windy Boy, The Billings Gazette reported. "I lost sleep over this last night."

Get the Story:
Open-pit mine bill is killed (The Billings Gazette 3/28)

Get the Bill:
HB 367

Relevant Documents:
Record of Decision | Final Environmental Impact Statement

Relevant Links:
Fort Belknap Community Council - http://tlc.wtp.net/fort.htm

Related Stories:
Mont. mine cleanup bill clears one hurdle (3/27)
Mont. tribal members want mines cleaned up (03/19)
Mont. tribes offer mine tours (05/30)
Tribes plan to challenge mine plan (5/6)
Mont. tribes want mine cleanup (5/3)
Cleanup of mine near reservation costly (1/9)
Fort Belknap tribes push mine cleanup (10/1)
Mont. tribes lose mining auction (9/5)