Hecla forges ahead with Lincoln County mine
The snowcapped Cabinet Mountains tower over the lush Kootenai River Valley outside of Libby. (AP FILE)
A proposed mine beneath the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness that has been a beacon of hope for mining proponents and a source of concern for environmental groups could get a green light from federal officials early this year, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Such approval would clear the way for exploration work to determine how much copper and silver is beneath the surface and if it’s economically viable to open a full-scale mine in the far corner of northwest Montana.
If the Forest Service approves the Libby Exploration Project’s Draft Environmental Assessment and its Plan of Operations, miners could be working in Lincoln County for the first time in more than a decade. That would be a boon for communities like Libby, one of Montana’s most economically depressed areas. Environmental groups, however, are concerned that mining activity could impact aboveground habitat for endangered species, including bull trout and grizzly bears.
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