FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2024

MCV: “Sen. Daines and Reps. Zinke and Rosendale are out of touch with public lands loving Montanans”

Conservation group takes to Washington to make Montanans heard on new oil and gas rule and Smith River protections

(HELENA, MT) – This week, Montana Conservation Voters traveled to Washington, D.C., to deliver a petition asking U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. House of Reps. Ryan Zinke and Matt Rosendale to stop their efforts to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s new public lands oil and gas leasing rule.

“Sen. Daines and Reps. Zinke and Rosendale are out of touch with public lands loving Montananst,” said Jocelyn Leroux, Deputy Director at MCV. “Montanans have made it clear our public lands deserve protection and the entire delegation should listen to their concerns.”

The new BLM rule updates the process for oil and gas development on public lands and increases royalty rates for post-drilling clean up.

Nearly three-quarters of Montanans are worried about the impact of oil and gas drilling on our land, air, and water, and wish that elected officials would place more emphasis on conservation. Further, polling shows that 93% of Montanans support requiring oil and gas companies to pay for the clean-up and land restoration costs after drilling is finished rather than the taxpayers.

During the D.C. meetings, MCV also highlighted the importance of protecting the Smith River from the proposed Black Butte Copper Mine and the thousands of Montanans who want it protected.

A 2024 survey by the University of Montana showed that 73% of residents want the Forest Service to have a public process on allowing new hard rock mining at the headwaters of the Smith River.

Earlier this year, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sandfire Resources and restored its permit for the mine, but Montanans have petitioned the Forest Service to withdraw the mineral leases and a second lawsuit – this one is about the legality of water usage – has been heard by the Supreme Court and is awaiting a ruling.

“It’s clear that Montanans want to protect our public lands and waters,” Leroux said. “Now it’s time for officials to take what Montanans want into account and protect Montana as the Last Best Place before it is too late.”