HELENA — Montana Trout Unlimited is asking the U.S. Forest Service to close federal lands in the Smith River drainage to mineral exploration, arguing the agency should protect the natural, cultural and recreational value of the river.
Montana Trout Unlimited filed the request with the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in October because of Tintina Resources Inc.’s nearby Black Butte Copper Project, said David Brooks, the group’s associate director of conservation.
Tintina is seeking an operations permit from the state Department of Environmental Quality for an underground mine on private property about 15 miles north of White Sulphur Springs.
The company also has 525 lode claims on 10,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in the Smith River drainage, the Trout Unlimited request said. Tintina has been telling investors that once permitted, the copper mine could be expanded.
Tintina spokeswoman Nancy Schlepp called the group’s request a publicity stunt.
“It does not affect our project,” she said. “We do have claims on Forest Service (land) but what we’re permitting right now is completely on private property and it’s an underground mine.”
She said there are no immediate planes for exploration on the Forest Service claims.
The TU request has yet to be reviewed by the forest’s minerals program, said forest spokeswoman Kathy Bushnell.