Page 27 - Flathead Beacon // 12.24.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS DECEMBER 24, 2014 | 27 Off the Blogs
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HOUSE LEADERS OK SIMPLE DRESS CODE
The Montana House of Representa- tives will have a simple dress code after a previous stricter code drew criticism as sexist and outdated.
Republican House leaders agreed to abandon the original, strict one-page dress code that drew widespread me- dia coverage, critical editorials and was widely ridiculed on social media.
The original code included language such as: “Women should be sensitive to skirt lengths and necklines.”
Instead, Republican leaders went along with a simple, one-paragraph statement suggested by new House Mi- nority Whip Jenny Eck, of Helena, and other Democratic leaders.
Lee Newspapers of Montana reports the new House dress code says simply that representatives and others on the House floor are asked to dress in profes- sional business attire that is befitting the honor of the institution.
CFAC OPPOSES SUPERFUND LISTING
The Columbia Falls Aluminum Com- pany, which is owned by Glencore, favors a speedy and thorough investigation of the shuttered plant site but opposes list- ing it as a Superfund site, officials an- nounced last week.
CFAC officials said they have ap- proached the Environmental Protection Agency about discussions to proceed with an investigation of the former alu- minum plant. The company has hired an environmental consulting firm, Roux Associates, to develop a “remedial in- vestigation work plan,” according to of- ficials.
“While we understand the interest that some in the community and at the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) have in gaining access to federal cleanup funds, we believe list- ing on the NPL and designating the site as a Superfund site will unnecessarily delay the entire effort and become a det- riment to economic development in the Flathead,” the company said in a state- ment.
“Besides the lengthy time frame as- sociated with NPL listing, Superfund stigmatizes properties, inhibiting po- tential developers and thus limiting eco- nomic growth potential.”
The company claims listing the site on the National Priorities List, which would pre-empt Superfund status, “is not likely to result in an efficient assess- ment or cleanup,” citing other current and past Superfund sites in the state.
“None of the 18 Superfund sites in
Montana has ever been removed from the list: in other words, no project has ever been fully completed. We believe it is in the best interest of everyone – MDEQ, EPA, CFAC, Columbia Falls, the Flathead and the people of Montana – to address the site without listing on the NPL and to do the investigation and analysis as expeditiously as possible,” company officials said.
Recent reports from MDEQ and EPA have shown the site is eligible for Super- fund status, but the site’s owner, Glen- core, a Swiss commodities firm, has nev- er explained what it intends to do with the property.
The community of Columbia Falls has expressed concerns regarding the toxic materials buried at the site, and at a recent town hall meeting residents said they would like the site cleaned up so that it can be revitalized for other uses.
MOUNTAIN EXPOSURE
FWP INVESTIGATING ILLEGAL KILLING OF ELK NEAR HOLLAND LAKE
State wildlife officers are investigat- ing the illegal killing of an elk near Hol- land Lake south of Condon.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks of- ficials said the poaching occurred either Monday night or Tuesday morning off Montana Highway 83.
FWP Game Warden Chuck Bartos is seeking information from the pub- lic. Callers can remain anonymous and potentially receive a reward for provid- ing information that leads to a convic- tion. Call Bartos at 253-2934 or call 1-800-TIP-MONT.
ADVOCATES SEEK GRIZZLY RE-INTRODUCTIONS IN SELWAY-BITTERROOT
An advocacy group has petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to re- introduce grizzly bears into the Selway- Bitterroot area of Idaho and Montana.
The Center for Biological Diversity said Thursday that it hopes to revive a stalled recovery plan for the animals that was finalized in 2000.
The group says having bears in the Selway-Bitterroot would help connect grizzlies in Yellowstone National Park with other populations of the animals in Montana and Idaho. It says the 16-mil- lion-acre area could support 300 to 600 bears.
An earlier petition from the group called for grizzly recovery across a sev- en-state area that included the Selway- Bitterroot. Center for Biological Diversi- ty attorney Andrea Santarsiere says the group is considering legal action after that petition was denied in September.
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