October 17, 2004 in Region

Backers ask stations to pull opponents’ ad

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HELENA – Supporters of a ballot initiative that would lift Montana’s prohibition of cyanide leach mining have asked broadcasters to pull what they say is a false ad from opponents of the ballot measure.

The advertisement claims Canyon Resources, the mining company that has paid almost all of the costs behind Initiative 147, has abandoned a gold mine near Lewistown and left the cleanup expenses to taxpayers.

Michael Kakuk, a Helena lawyer representing a group supporting Initiative 147, said the state has not paid for any reclamation at the CR Kendall mine, which closed in 1995.

Records show Canyon has spent several million dollars on initial cleanup operations. However, Canyon has refused to pay for a required environmental study of the site, said Montana Department of Environmental Quality Director Jan Sensibaugh. So far, she said, the state has used federal money and about $135,000 of state tax dollars for the study.

Initiative supporter Tammy Johnson said not paying for the environmental study is not the same as neglecting costs for cleanup, which involves backfilling mine pits, treating water and other on-the-ground activities.

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