WEST GLACIER – A team of scientists from the United Nations have met with Glacier National Park leaders to discuss the potential impacts of coal mining and natural gas development at the World Heritage Site.
The U.N. delegates met all day Monday with Glacier Park leadership, scientists, researchers and local stakeholders. They are expected to spend a couple more days touring the park and meeting with officials on the United States side of the border before heading north, to the Canadian side of the Flathead Valley in British Columbia, to meet with officials there.
Several Canadian companies are interested in developing just outside park borders. The transboundary dispute has prompted a dozen environmental groups to ask the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to declare the parks a World Heritage Site in danger.