Juneau Stands up for future generations of Montanans
Contact Information
Theresa Keaveny 406-254-1593
Superintendent Juneau is the only State Land Board member who stood up for the protection of the Tongue River Valley by voting "no". She is Montana's first statewide Native American elected official. She walks the talk.
Here are the minutes of the Land Board meeting.
1209-10 OTTER CREEK LEASING PROPOSAL
Benefits: Common Schools
Location: Powder River County
APPROVED 4-1 (Ms. Juneau dissenting). The motion by Ms. McCulloch, which was seconded by Ms. Lindeen was as follows:
- to use the amended version of the proposed lease form that is before us,
- to set a minimum bonus bid amount of 25 cents per ton,
- to set a 45 day limit on the bid process, to allow the bids to be reviewed at the February 2010 Land Board meeting, and
- funding from the bonus bid must be used to support and benefit Montana K-12 schools.
Read MCV member Bob Adam's testimony before the Land Board and MCV's letter to the Land Board for details. Thirty people testified against the Land Board moving forward with leasing, including ranchers, teachers, students and workers. Seven people testified in favor of moving forward, including Coal Council director Bud Clinch and Leo Barry with Great Northern Properties.
All the elected officials serving on the Land Board were endorsed by Montana Conservation Voters, and all have pledged, in writing or verbally, to ensure the protection of our air, land and water, our landscapes and fish and wildlife, when they make decisions about state lands. Superintendent Juneau lived up to her pledge. Attorney General Bullock offered an amendment to raise the minimum bonus bid to 35 cents a ton, which would have increased the revenue to the state by millions of dollars, but it died for lack of a second. The Land Board did not require an assessment of environmental impacts at this time, as the Environmental Impact Statement will be done at the mine permit stage by the Department of Environmental Quality, should the leases be developed. The Land Board also stipulated that they would make the decision on the mine permit, not the Department of Environmental Quality.
Click here to read more from the Northern Plains Resource Council.
We need to be vigilant between now and the February, 2010 Land Board meeting, and in the months and years ahead, to avoid further movement toward leasing the Otter Creek tracts, such as lowering the minimum bid.
Please call, email or write Superintendent Juneau with your thanks. Her number is 406-444-3095 and her email is djuneau@mt.gov. Please contact Governor Schweitzer (406-444-3111, governor@mt.gov); Attorney General Bullock (406-444-2026, sbullock@mt.gov); Secretary of State McCulloch (406-444-2034, lmcculloch@mt.gov) and State Auditor Lindeen (406-444-2040, mlindeen@mt.gov) and ask them to explain their votes, and encourage them to work for the protection of the environment in future Otter Creek tract decisions.
Thanks to the many members, leaders and staff of Northern Plains Resource Council, Montana Environmental Information Center, Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation and others for their work on this issue.
This is not much of a Christmas gift, or a way to celebrate the winter solstice. We can draw hope from the courage shown by Superintendent Juneau, and work for the election of legislative candidates who will stand up for our conservation values as Denise Juneau did today!
Sincerely,
Theresa M. Keaveny
Executive Director
P.S. Click here to help us elect state legislative candidates in 2010 who will fight for our clean air, clear water, clean renewable energy, and the protection of places like the Tongue River Valley, people like Denise Juneau. Contribute $50 to Montana Conservation Voters' and make your voice heard today! Your $50 gift will go a long way towards making it possible for us to help elect and hold accountable pro-conservation politicians.
Dues and contributions to Montana Conservation Voters are not tax deductible as they are used for political purposes.
