Canada's Flathead River cuts through a valley thought to be rich with coal and coalbed methane before spilling south into Montana, where it forms the western boundary of Glacier Park.
For decades, Montana and British Columbia have clashed over energy development there, with downstream interests worried about impacts to Montana's fish, wildlife and water quality.
On Thursday, Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, both Democrats, will arrive in Kalispell to receive updates on the Canadian proposals, to gather input on what might be done, and to offer suggestions on what they think is politically possible.
“Max has a few ideas that he's going to outline,” Baucus spokesman Barrett Kaiser said. “He wants to keep the momentum going, and try to find some solutions.”
The senators will be joined at the town hall meeting by the Flathead Basin Commission, a multi-agency group created by the state of Montana some 30 years back in response to upstream mining threats.
“We applaud the senators' continued vigilance in protecting both the economic and ecological interests of the Flathead Basin,” said Caryn Miske, executive director of the commission. The focus of this week's meeting, she said, will be “apprising the public of the risks, and working to develop a long-term solution to address the proposed industrialization of the B.C. Flathead.”
Rich Moy, chief of the state Water Management Bureau, will attend - as will Glacier National Park brass and Ric Hauer, a University of Montana professor based out of the Flathead Lake Biological Station.
Canadian officials have said any downstream concerns are premature, and a full environmental review will be completed before mining begins. Scientists in the United States, however, have questioned the provincial review process, and the senators say continued updates are important.
“Folks deserve to know exactly what is going on with these proposals,” Baucus said. “The bottom line is, these projects will affect Glacier and the Flathead. We will not stand quietly by and let upstream industrial activity affect our quality of life in Montana.”
Tester agreed, saying: “Max and I want to make sure all folks in the Flathead have access to as much good information as possible. Good information leads to good public policy, and it's one of the best tools we have in the fight against irresponsible development in Canada.”
The hourlong meeting begins at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Arts and Technology Building on the Kalispell campus of Flathead Valley Community College.
Coming up
Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester will meet with officials and the public at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Arts and Technology Building on the Kalispell campus of Flathead Valley Community College. The topic: proposed industrialization of Canada's Flathead River Valley. The session is open to all.
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