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Butte restoration plans near final approval

Posted: Dec 4, 2012 6:43 PM by KXLF Media Center

Two Butte restoration plans need the approval of Governor Brian Schweitzer to be complete.

The Trustee Restoration Council approved the Aquatic Terrestrial Resource Restoration plan for $65.5 million and the Butte Area One plan for $32 million on Monday.

"The trustees applauded what the Butte Council has done," said Pat Cunneen, environmental science specialist with the Montana Natural Resource Damage Program. "They thought it was a great plan and they saw the wisdom in it, and they endorsed it right away."

The area of highest concern is the Parrot Tailings site behind the Butte Civic Center, according to Cunneen. The Parrot Tailings are included in the Silver Bow Creek Corridor which will receive $10 million dollars for clean-up. The corridor stretches from the Parrot Tailings site to the KOA Campground. To restore the Parrot Tailings site alone is a $20 million project.

"We are basically asking the state to look into bringing some of the remainder of the Stream Side Tailings Operable Unit fund to bring that money back to Butte to do this job," Cunneen said.

Copies of both plans will be on Governor Schweitzer's desk by the end of the week. They expect a favorable outcome before the end of his term.