Montana Mining 2017-18

MONTANA 2017-2018 mining

Bringing tomorrow’s technology to Montana Women’s Mining Coalition honored for mining advocacy and education MMA recognizes outstanding safety performance

www.montanamining.org

Photo Courtesy of Tintina Resources

PROVIDING CORE DRILLING SERVICES FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY P.O. Box 267 | Clark Fork, ID | 83811 | P. (208) 266.1151 Branch Office | Bozeman, MT | P. (406) 586.6266 | E. office@ruendrilling.com

www.ruendrilling.com

Serving the Mining Industry in Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota

Crowley Fleck PLLP is one of the oldest and largest law firms in the Northern Rocky Mountain region. The firm has over 150 lawyers practicing in the areas of natural resources, mining, permitting, energy law, environmental law, governmental affairs and lobbying, employment law, healthcare, commercial transactions, commercial litigation, insurance defense litigation, banking and finance, creditors’ rights, real estate transactions and development, tax and estate planning and administration, and intellectual property matters.

While the legal profession has changed markedly since the firm’s founding, our goal remains the same today as it was in 1895: to provide the highest quality legal service in a timely and cost-effective manner.

LOCATIONS BILLINGS, MT Phone: (406) 252-3441

BOZEMAN, MT Phone: (406) 556-1430

HELENA, MT BUTTE, MT Phone: (406) 221-2428 Phone: (406) 449-4165

KALISPELL, MT Phone: (406) 752-6644

MISSOULA, MT Phone: (406) 523-3600

WILLISTON, ND BISMARCK, ND Phone: (701) 223-6585 Phone: (701) 572-2200

CASPER, WY Phone: (307) 265-2279

CHEYENNE, WY Phone: (307) 426-4100

SHERIDAN, WY Phone: (307) 673-3000

A Commitment to Quality Since 1895

www.crowleyfleck.com

Billings, MT 406-348-2184

Butte, MT 406-855-9944

Toll Free 1-800-333-2266

In this issue Message from the Montana Mining Association President, Mark Thompson........................ 8 Message from the Montana Mining Association Executive Director, Tammy Johnson......... 10 Montana Mining Association Board of Directors................................................................. 12 Montana Mining Association Mission Statement................................................................ 12

MONTANA MINING

is published by DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com President David Langstaff Publisher Jason Stefanik

Getting to know your MMA Board of Directors................................................................... 14 2017 Montana Legislative Session....................................................................................... 22 Montana City plant helps Ash Grove Cement be No. 1........................................................ 28 Through thick and thin....................................................................................................... 30 Bringing tomorrow’s technology to Montana..................................................................... 32 Providing Montana mining with solutions and support for long-term success................... 34 EPA’s proposed rule for financial responsibility requirements for the hard-rock mining industry under CERCLA Section 108(b)........................................ 36 Tintina Resources’ Black Butte update............................................................................... 38 Sibanye-Stillwater continues development at its Montana mines...................................... 40 MMA annual meetings rock!............................................................................................... 42 Putting the spotlight on Barretts Minerals Inc.................................................................... 44 Keeping it REAL in Montana............................................................................................... 46 Women’s Mining Coalition honored for mining advocacy and education.......................... 48 2BUG: Stealing the meat from the tiger’s mouth................................................................ 50 Montana Resources invests in the future............................................................................ 52 MMA recognizes outstanding safety performance.............................................................. 54

Managing Editor Cindy Chan cindy@delcommunications.com Sales Manager Dayna Oulion dayna@delcommunications.com Toll Free: 1.866.424.6398 Advertising Account Executives Cheryl Ezinicki Jennifer Hebert Michelle Raike Production services provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com Art Director Kathy Cable Layout Dana Jensen Advertising Art Dave Bamburak

MMA Health & Safety Committee Code of Ethics................................................................ 57 CRH-Trident Cement Plant: sustainable neighbor of Gallatin Valley.................................. 58 Western Montana Exploration and Mining Association....................................................... 60

Cover photo courtesy of Ash Grove Cement.

Montana Tech Foundation.................................................................................................. 60 Montana Tech Mining Engineering Department................................................................. 61 MMA scholarships lessen financial burden......................................................................... 62 Eighth-grade essay contest.................................................................................................. 64 The Butte mining disaster and its effect on mining............................................................ 66 The United States Bureau of Mines’ positive impact on mining......................................... 68 Low-freezing dynamite saves countless lives...................................................................... 70 If it can’t be farmed, it must be mined............................................................................... 72 The influence of mining..................................................................................................... 74 What is the role that mining plays in alternative energy technologies?.............................. 76 Thank you to our members................................................................................................ 78

© Copyright 2017 DEL Communications Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this pub­lica­tion may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein and the reliability of the source, the publisher­in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers. Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees.

Top 10 reasons to be a Montana Mining Association member........................................... 80 Membership application form............................................................................................ 81 Index to advertisers............................................................................................................ 82

6

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

PRINTED IN CANADA 11/2017

Message from the

Montana Mining Association President, Mark Thompson During the November 2016 snow geese incident with the Berkeley Pit, I received the following email from a woman from a 612 area code (Minneapolis): “Really? Mark Thompson sits on the State of Montana's "Groundwater Assessment Steering Committee" and knowingly has toxic water in an open pit mine.”

While this, by far, was not the most threatening or angriest of the hundreds of emails that I received, it did, for some reason, cause me pause to consider. This was the only incident-related email that I responded to and this was my response: “I must assume that you are unaware that when the decisions were made that ultimately resulted in the Berkeley Pit that we know today, I was in eighth grade. It is true that I am appointed to the State of Montana's Groundwater Assessment Steering Committee, as well as the Southwest Montana Resource Advisory Council, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Working Group and currently serve as the president of the Montana Mining Association.

You obviously find it inappropriate that someone tasked with management of a legacy left by past decision-makers would be asked to provide advice to current decision-makers.

But who better to provide advice than someone that understands the consequences when decisions are made; decisions dating back to when this country was first developing; decisions made to industrialize, advance and protect this country; decisions that allowed this country to prevail in two World Wars and a Cold War. I do not necessarily defend those decisions, often made uninformed of the consequences, but I do understand the need for the decisions.

Make no mistake, Butte, Montana and the Berkeley Pit are the legacy of an evolving society and have provided and continue to provide the raw materials that consumers demand.

Consumers over 100 years ago demanded electrification of the east and west coasts and all points in between. Consumers demanded flowing clean water into their homes and Butte and the Berkeley Pit supplied the copper for their pipes. Consumers now demand computers, Internet, smartphones, alternative energy sources and electric automobiles and Butte continues to satisfy these demands.

As much as any individual, consumers just like yourself are responsible for the Berkley Pit. I am merely the custodian of the legacy left from the ever-growing demands of consumers.

Do you have an understanding of the amount of copper, silver, lead and gold it took for you to send me an email? So before you pass judgment on others, make sure that you have a thorough understanding of the depth of your own hypocrisy.”

There is an alarming disparity between the educated and the ignorant, urban and rural, conservative and liberal, and those that own private property and those that don’t. Maybe I’ve just become more aware of the disparity over time, but it does appear to be escalating. These are not sustainable divisions within our society and as an industry group; we are finding ourselves at ground zero in these conflicts. Conflicts like those in the Paradise Valley, Smith River and Cabinet Wilderness where non-value added industries (tourism) are winning the battle of public opinion over value-added industries (mining) and it’s happening with disturbing ease. I’m certain that there is not an easy answer to righting these divisions, but I am certain that to do nothing and ignoring this disparity makes it worse. I am confident that participation in, and support of, organizations such as MMA makes a positive difference.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

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For more information, call the location nearest you: Helena, MT – 406.495.1335 Billings, MT – 406.373.3700

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Message from the

Montana Mining Association Executive Director, Tammy Johnson I am often asked if I like my job. You bet! Assisting and advocating for the business of mining is very fulfilling and worthwhile. The best part of my job? Without hesitation, it is the people. I could be the luckiest person around.

I have had the opportunity to get to know so many people, the kind of people my parents told me to surround myself with. I’m sure, at some point in each of our lives, someone has told us that we are the product of the people we encircle ourselves with or some version of that theme.

Hardworking, family-oriented, community-oriented, positive people are the norm in the business of mining. Smart people with a wit, skilled people who can make just about anything work, dedicated people who genuinely care about their co-workers, who take great pride in doing their jobs well and safely, who pull together in difficult times and who celebrate the better days. To all of you, thank you for making my life pretty darned great.

The definition of the word “association” is “a group of people having a common purpose or interest.” Associations, through interaction with others, allow individuals to learn the values and attitudes of others. Through association, we make a mental connection of ideas, feelings or sensations.

My interaction with MMA members cause me to become more curious and, through our interactions, I gain wisdom.

MMA members also prevent me from what I will call a “victim mentality” and believe me, there are days when I read or hear yet another missive from the anti-mining crowd that I can get sucked into that void. It is you that makes me put my head on straight and puts me back on track.

It has been another good year for the MMA. 2017 ushered in the 65th Legislative Session. By all accounts, it was a good session. We managed to beat back the worst of the anti-mining legislation and we made a few small gains. Tax abatements on pollution control equipment were made permanent, the statutory appropriation for the hard-rock metal mines monies going to counties was extended for another 10 years and, for many

of our associate members and a few of our producer members, the passage of a gas tax increase to fund infrastructure will be beneficial to their businesses. (See the 2017 Legislative Session Report in the magazine for more details on the Legislative Session.)

Recent MMA annual meetings have seen pretty good growth and the programs were well-received. Our attendance numbers are up, our trade show vendor numbers are up and the program is attracting some great speakers.

We have participated in many state rulemaking efforts and have offered comments on numerous issues including nutrient standards/variances, anthropogenic versus non-anthropogenic water quality variance processes, federal mineral withdrawals, forest planning processes, the CERCLA 108(b) duplicative and onerous federal bonding scheme, the proposed BLM Planning 2.0, which was another boondoggle for mining, and others.

We have provided comment on some operational expansions or permitting efforts and we continue to attend to interim legislative business.

The MMA receives many calls each day looking for assistance, seeking answers to questions, people wanting to share ideas and express concerns about what may be going on in permitting efforts or regulatory actions at both the state and federal levels. Each call is an opportunity for me to think about what else we could do to assist in the growth or betterment of the industry.

As your executive director, I look forward to seeing where our future will take us. I look forward to the day we see a few new mines permitted putting more men and women to work. I eagerly anticipate each expansion or exploration effort and I take great pleasure in visiting with every member I hear from. I believe the future for the mining industry in Montana is brighter than it has been for several years. I can’t wait to see the great things we can do together with our association and with each other.

Safety Share – Fire Extinguishers - Everyone should have one of more fire extinguishers available at all times (home, garage, RV) and everyone should know how to use them. Make certain they are in working order and charged properly.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

GOLDEN SUNLIGHT MINE

Good GoodMine Mine Great Neighbor Neighbor Great

Montana Mining Association Board of Directors Mark Thompson, President Montana Resources, Butte, Montana

Greg Gannon, Director CRH US, Trident Plant, Three Forks, Montana

Ben Raffety, Executive Vice President Barretts Minerals, Inc., Dillon, Montana

Nathan Hunt, Director Groundhog Mining & Milling Company, LLC, Dillon, Montana

John Junnila, 1st Vice President Westate Machinery Company, Billings, Montana

Dick Johnson, Director Ash Grove Cement Company, Clancy, Montana

Hal Robbins, 2nd Vice President Bison Engineering, Inc., Helena, Montana

Robin McCulloch, Director Butte, Montana

Matt Wolfe, Immediate Past President Sibanye-Stillwater / East Boulder Mine, Big Timber, Montana

Doug Miller, Director Troy, Montana

Dan Banghart, Secretary/Treasurer Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine, Whitehall, Montana

Dennis Morelock, Director Tri-State Truck and Equipment, Inc., Belgrade, Montana

Ted Antonioli, Director Ted Antonioli Consulting Geologist, LLC, Missoula, Montana

Tina Nolevanko, Director Pacific Steel & Recycling, Great Falls, Montana

Blake Bills, Director Graymont Western U.S. Inc./Indian Creek Plant, Townsend, Montana

Marie-Hélène Paré NewFields Mining & Energy Services, Missoula, Montana

Nick Brundin, Director Imerys Talc, Cameron, Montana Mark Cole, Director Dick Irvin, Inc., Shelby, Montana Tad Dale, Director Butte, Montana Fess Foster, Director Geological & Environmental Consultant, Whitehall, Montana

Chris Schneider, Director Tractor & Equipment Company, Billings, Montana John Shanahan, Director Tintina Montana, White Sulphur Springs, Montana Doug Stiles, Director Revett Silver Company, Spokane, Washington

Staff Tammy Johnson, Executive Director Whitehall, Montana

Montana Mining Association Vision, Mission and Member Values Statement Vision The Montana Mining Association advocates for a sustainable mining industry, benefiting our state and local communities.

Mission To be recognized as the trusted voice of Montana’s mining industry by advocating for public policy that encourages and allows for responsible mineral development.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Member Values Demonstrate excellence in safety Operate in a manner that protects the environment Communicate openly with stakeholders Engage in ethical business practices

World Leader As the world leader in industrial minerals, Imerys designs, manufactures and sells high value-added mineral-based products that enable its customers to optimize their own products or production processes, whether in consumer goods, industrial equipment or housing construction.

The talc we mine and process in Montana ends up in products used around the world. Most people think our talc is used to make body powder – and it is. But they don’t know it also makes paint last longer, cars more fuel efficient and paper-making a greener process.

Commitment We have a culture of ownership, fostered by an entrepreneurial mindset. Through it all, we maintain our unwavering commitment to our people and the communities in which we operate.

We also share one of the most beautiful ecosystems in the world with our neighbors – so continual reduction of our environmental footprint comes naturally.

For more information about Imerys, visit www.imerys.com and www.imerystalc.com.

Getting to know your MMA Board of Directors The MMA board of directors were asked to answer at least four of 11 questions designed to allow you to get to know your board of directors and management team. Having fun with this was important. While the MMA officers and directors each take their responsibilities seriously, we don’t need to be serious all the time, do we? We hope you enjoy the questions and answers and gain some insight into those who serve the association so admirably.

Mark Thompson, President Montana Resources, Butte, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Dog. Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. What kind of music do you like best? – Classic rock.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Beer.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Africa.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Marry for money.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– Jennifer Aniston.

Ben Raffety, Executive Vice President Barretts Minerals, Inc., Dillon, Montana Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Anchorman.

What kind of music do you like best? – Classic rock If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Wife, dog, guns. What else is there?

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Ireland.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– Peyton Manning.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

John Junnila, 1st Vice President Westate Machinery Company, Billings, Montana Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – The Godfather.

What kind of music do you like best? – Country rock.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Chips and dip.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Wife, car, guns, dog, safe.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– Gold Hill of Fame in Florida.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Be nice to others.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– Donald Trump.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Traveling to see our daughters for Thanksgiving.

Hal Robbins, 2nd Vice President Bison Engineering, Inc., Helena, Montana Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Hopscotch.

What kind of music do you like best? – Rock and ‘60s.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Pizza.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Greece.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – In my past life, I was a drummer and had a college scholarship.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Skiing in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Matt Wolfe, Immediate Past President Sibanye-Stillwater / East Boulder Mine, Big Timber, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Being carefree. The biggest concern was having to make it back home by dark, as soon as the streetlights came on!

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. A general rule of wisdom: Don’t allow the doctor to remove something permanently attached to your body; it has a God-given purpose even though the medical world might not have figured it out yet.

Which is your favorite movie of all time? – The Princess Bride, still the most quoted movie in our home. Inconceivable!

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – My five youngest children. I figure my wife and the oldest two can get out on their own.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– Israel, coupled with a tour of Mediterranean seaport cities including Greece, Italy, Spain, Malta, Egypt, etc.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Watching my 10-year old son stalk and shoot his first deer. I think it was a great idea for Montana to change the age rules in 2015 to allow children to hunt earlier. The use of and respect for firearms should be taught as early as possible.

Dan Banghart, Secretary/Treasurer Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine, Whitehall, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Carefree days.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Miracle.

What kind of music do you like best? – ‘70s rock.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Chocolate.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only 5 things before leaving, what would they be? – Wife and dog.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– Northwest Montana.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Be slow to speak, yield the conversation.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– Brother David.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – No. What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Underground mining.

Safety Share – In the Home - Do not cover or fold electric blankets when using them. Tucking in an electric blanket or pinching the cord of the blanket against a wall can cause heat buildup and start a fire.

Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

15

Your MMA Board of Directors Ted Antonioli, Director Ted Antonioli Consulting Geologist, LLC, Missoula, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood?

– The Columbia Gardens, which were built by the Butte mining man W. A. Clark and maintained for decades by the Anaconda Company.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. My dad was a family doctor and didn't do surgery but brought back a story one day from the hospital about a kid who died during a tonsillectomy. So, we just put up with the sore throats.

Which is your favorite movie of all time? – The Godfather. "A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man." - Vito Corleone What kind of music do you like best? – Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin singing mining songs in "Paint Your Wagon". "The best things in life are dirty filthy chunks of gold, gold, GOLD!" Which is your favorite junk food? – McDonald’s fries, now on my "strictly prohibited" list.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Aside from family and dog and family pictures, I'd grab my mining stock certificates and specimens, until my quota was filled!

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– The Covellite stope of the Leonard mine.

Blake Bills, Director Graymont Western U.S. Inc. / Indian Creek Plant, Townsend, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? - My mom’s awesome home-cooked meals.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Hunt for Red October.

What kind of music do you like best? – Soft rock.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Hamburger and fries.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Wife and kids.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– Australia.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Don’t worry about the small stuff.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– Michael Jordan.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – No. What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Alaskan cruise.

Safety Share -Ladder - Over 50 percent of fatal injuries to roofers are falls through fragile materials and over 30 percent are falls from edges and openings. Therefore, awareness is important at all times when working on roofs. Ladders should not be used beyond the manufacturer’s recommendations or with damaged foot cleats, broken or missing rungs, broken side rails or other defects. Rungs and steps should be clean of any grease, oil mud, snow and ice before climbing.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Nick Brundin, Director Imerys Talc, Cameron, Montana Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – The Outlaw Josey Wales.

What kind of music do you like best? – 80s Rock What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Failing to prepare = preparing to fail.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Hunting big horn sheep and killing a good ram!

Mark Cole, Director Dick Irvin, Inc., Shelby, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Dad. Do you still have tonsils? – Yep. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Jeremiah Johnson.

What kind of music do you like best? – Country.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Popcorn.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Wife, guns, dogs.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Australia.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Keep a song in your heart!

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– Winston Churchill.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – Not really.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Grandchildren.

Tad Dale, Director Butte, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Younger brother.

Do you still have tonsils? – No. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Raiders of the Lost Ark. What kind of music do you like best? – Country and Elvis.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Pizza.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Wife, dog, cat, photos and guns.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Israel, What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – When you say “yes” to a project or to a time commitment, you say “no” to other personal time.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– Franklin Graham, What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Grandkids at the swimming pool!

Fess Foster, Director Geological & Environmental Consultant, Whitehall, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – My dad.

Do you still have tonsils? – No. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – The first Lonesome Dove.

What kind of music do you like best? – Classic Rock, Country Rock Which is your favorite junk food? – Pork Chop John’s sandwich.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things

before leaving, what would they be? – Wife, critters, computer, guns and wallet.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– The Mediterranean volcanic island of Santorini.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Only one thing is for sure…you never really know for sure.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– My wife.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – Telemark skiing, packing horses and mules.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Doing virtual reality games with commercial gear and software.

Safety Share - Driving - Drive defensively and never drive directly behind large trucks or equipment without the operator’s knowledge. Blind spots can kill.

Improving your world by responsibly meeting society’s needs for quality lime & stone products Graymont Western US, Inc. 4 1/2 Miles West of Townsend P.O. Box 550 Townsend, MT 59644 Phone: (406) 266-5221 Fax: (406) 266-3079

www.graymont.com

www.graymont.com

Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

17

Your MMA Board of Directors Greg Gannon, Director CRH US, Trident Plant, Three Forks, Montana Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. What kind of music do you like best? Both Country and western.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– South America.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – I play piano.

Nathan Hunt, Director Groundhog Mining & Milling Company, LLC, Dillon, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Playground recess. Why can’t we have this at work?

Do you still have tonsils? – Unfortunately, yes.

Which is your favorite movie of all time? – It predates me a little but I would say North to Alaska. There are so, so many close seconds.

What kind of music do you like best? – Western, then country, then rock, then anything but rap.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Too tough to answer – pass.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? - My dog, my hat, my guitar, my pants, my girlfriend – probably in that order. Joke.

I probably grab my guitar second.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Rome!

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Don’t sweat the small stuff. By Rick Borgman. Second best advice I was ever given – It’s all small stuff. Also by Rick Borgman (rest in peace).

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

The late Merle Haggard.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – Nope.

I’m just a jack-of-all-trades, but master of none.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Haven’t had much fun this year but we have a few months to go so there is still a chance to have some!

Dick Johnson, Director Ash Grove Cement Company, Clancy, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Hiking and fishing in the mountains with my father.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Dances with Wolves.

What kind of music do you like best? – ‘60s and ‘70s rock and roll.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Burger and fries.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Two fly rods, fishing bag, box of journals and box of pictures.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– Southwest coast of Chile.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Have patience. Take your time with things.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– All my children.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – No. What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Staying in a cabin on Henry’s Lake with my family.

Robin McCulloch, Director Butte, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – My mother.

Do you still have tonsils? – No. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – The Hallelujah Trail.

Best movie that depicts the function of government.

What kind of music do you like best? – Country.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Burrito.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Guns, gold, files, portable hard drive and phone.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – None.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Suck it up, Buttercup.

If you could have dinner with anyone, whom would you choose? – John Wayne.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – Harness and saddle work.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Elk hunting.

Safety Share - Generator - Never operate a generator in an enclosed area. Many people have died from CO poisoning because their generator was not adequately ventilated. Never place a generator outside near doors, windows, or vents. If you or someone else shows symptoms of CO poisoning (dizziness, headaches, nausea, tiredness), get to fresh air immediately and seek medical attention.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Doug Miller, Director Troy, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Summers on the ranch.

Do you still have tonsils? – No. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Dances with Wolves.

What kind of music do you like best? – Soft rock.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Potato chips.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Wife, dog, pictures, guns and guns.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– New Zealand.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Hunting with brothers-in-law and friends.

ASSAY OFFICE COMING SOON!

Ph: (406) 439-5362 • PO Box 1467 Dillon, MT 59725 groundhog01@gmail.com • www.groundhogmining.com Nathan & Del Hunt – Owners/Operators

Dennis Morelock, Director Tri-State Truck and Equipment, Inc., Belgrade, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – My best friend.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Brian’s Song.

What kind of music do you like best? – ‘80s rock.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Wife, dogs, guns, wallet, emergency pack.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Hawaii.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Just do it.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Watching Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton in the election.

Tina Nolevanko, Director Pacific Steel & Recycling, Great Falls, Montana Do you still have tonsils? – No. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – The Magic of Belle Isle.

What kind of music do you like best? – The Eagles.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Red Vines licorice.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Egypt.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– My papaw and preferably the dinner would be cooked by him as well.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Floating the river with family and NO cell phones.

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19

Your MMA Board of Directors Marie-Hélène Paré NewFields Mining & Energy Services, Missoula, MT Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Time! Seems like I don’t have time anymore.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes, and they are spectacular.

Which is your favorite movie of all time? – The Princess Bride.

What kind of music do you like best? – Alternative rock.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Can’t beat a good pizza.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Spouse, kids and dogs are not things, correct? Phone, my son’s teddy bear and my other son’s blanket. That’s it.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– Croatia, Iceland, Cambodia.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Let that shit go.

If you could have dinner with anyone, whom would you choose? – My husband.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – I can make a pretty darn good spaghetti sauce from scratch.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Powder skiing at Snowbowl on a Sunday in February. Girlfriend shopping spree in Seattle.

Chris Schneider, Director Tractor & Equipment Company, Billings, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Stress-free life.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – A River Runs Through It. What kind of music do you like best? – Country.

Which is your favorite junk food? - Taco John’s.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – My wife, two sons, daughter and dog.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Seychelles.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Be humble.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– My grandpa.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? - I can juggle.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Going to Cabo.

Safety Share - Children - Parents should teach their children an easily remembered secret code word and tell them to ask for it if anyone approaches them and says that they are a family friend and that they need to take them somewhere.

20

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

John Shanahan, Director Tintina Montana, White Sulphur Springs, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Father.

Do you still have tonsils? – No. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

What kind of music do you like best? – ‘80s rock.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Cookies.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? Wife and kids, bike, wallet/passport, photos, golf clubs.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– Kathmandu.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Love the child you have, not the one you want.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose?

– Nelson Mandela.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – No. What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Golf trip to Ireland.

Doug Stiles, Director Revett Silver Company, Spokane, Washington Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Exploring the public land outside of my childhood home.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes! Which is your favorite junk food? – Chocolate.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– Western Europe.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Don’t communicate in anger; wait to respond when in doubt.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Going to Disneyland with my family.

Environomics’ MMA Management Team Tammy Johnson, Executive Director Montana Mining Association, Whitehall, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – The feeling of freedom and excitement when school let out for the endless summer days!

Do you still have tonsils? – No. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Rudy.

What kind of music do you like best? – Rock and I like my music loud!

Which is your favorite junk food? – Dark chocolate or cherry pie.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – My kids, my husband, pets, photos/videos and my laptop and external drives.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– Bora Bora.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Hope is not a strategy!

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose? – My family – and I would like to invite James Michener to join us.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – I played both clarinet and bass trumpet in band and marched in a precession drill team in school, proving that I can walk and chew gum at the same time.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – My class reunion! The best friends ever!

Bruce Vincent, MMA Management Team Libby, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Grandpa Lute Kendall, my mentor and hero.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Hoosiers.

What kind of music do you like best? – Country.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Salted Nut Rolls.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? - My wife, family bible, old family picture album, birth certificates and Aunt Grace Huguenin’s paintings.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet?

– Italy.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? - Father Jenson told my soon-to-be-wife and I not to love each other through our children but to love our children through each other.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose? – Christ.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – Painting.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Playing on Australia’s Sunshine Coast with PJ for our 40th anniversary.

Safety Share – Ladder - When using a ladder take steps necessary to avoid electrical hazards — look for overhead power lines or exposed, energized electrical equipment and be sure to place the ladder at the correct angle. The distance of the base from the point directly below the point of support should be one quarter the height of the point of support.

Jessica Sena, MMA Social Media Consultant Choteau, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Life before smartphones (better interpersonal communication).

If you could have dinner with anyone, whom would you choose? – Ronald Reagan.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – I sing in a band and play drums.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Solo trip for my birthday to Scottsdale and Sedona.

Patti Jo (PJ) Vincent, MMA Management Team Libby, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Going to the beach in Santa Cruz.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yes. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Mary Poppins or The Sound of Music.

What kind of music do you like best? – Rock.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Popcorn.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – Husband, pictures, jewelry, family crystal, family quilts.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Italy.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Always love your children through each other and not each other through your children.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose? Christ.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – Nope.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Fourth of July at the lake with the family or our Australia trip.

Chas Vincent, MMA Management Team Libby, Montana Something or someone you miss the most from childhood? – Summers spent exploring the mountains surrounding home with my buddies.

Do you still have tonsils? – Yep. Which is your favorite movie of all time? – Braveheart.

What kind of music do you like best? – Bluegrass/country.

Which is your favorite junk food? – Ice cream.

If your house was on fire and you could grab only five things before leaving, what would they be? – As many guns as I could carry.

What place would you like to visit that you haven't been to yet? – Scotland.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? – Better to be thought stupid than to open your mouth and remove any doubts.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose? – Would have been Robin Williams, but since he is no longer with us, Bruce Willis.

Do you have any talents that would surprise people? – I like to do leather work.

What's the most fun you've had in the last year? – Logging the property we recently acquired.

2017 Montana Legislative Session The People’s Work January 2, 2017 – April 28, 2017

By Tammy Johnson Elected legislative members convened in Helena on Jan. 2, 2017 to take up the business of the Montana people. As always, the single largest task is crafting a two-year balanced budget while allocating our hard-earned tax dollars to running the government, educating our children, providing for a sound correctional system, taking care of our highway and bridge systems, providing necessary safety nets and myriad important and critical societal functions. It is always a difficult task because the reality is that everything is important. The second reality is that the tax pie is only so big and there is never enough. It’s a difficult job and the servings of pie never satisfy.

In addition to the critical budget work, the body takes up many policy measures throughout the allotted 90-day session.

Policy measures are diverse with some trying to fix an identified problem and some attempt to make situations more equitable.

Some policy suggestions attempt to spur economic growth while others try to fix extremely complicated tax code. Some legislation taken up by our leaders deal with water, natural resource development, education and, of course what seems to be perennial as of late, raising and doling out money for infrastructure needs. To be sure, crafting policy that works and is effective is never easy, regardless of the importance. Often policy provides a solution to an identified problem and sometimes it seems as though the offered solution is in search of the problem.

Throughout the years, whether we are met with success or failure, I always expressed my appreciation for the men and women that serve us as our elected leaders. Throwing your hat into the political arena and offering to stand for election with the hope of serving neighbors and the state of Montana is something that I am in awe of every election cycle. I applaud everyone serving, regardless of political affiliation, because it is a difficult job, requires dedication and sacrifice from not only the person serving but from their families, friends, businesses, employers and others. Those that occupy the seats in the Montana House of Representatives or in the Senate must be willing to endure often unpleasant election cycles, the fast-paced legislative sessions and the interim work that goes on throughout their tenure. A sincere and hearty thank you to each and everyone who is willing to serve our state!

The MMA reviewed every bill draft request for relevance and supported, opposed, monitored or tracked 375 bills or bill draft requests. A few highlights of the 65th Legislative Session that may be of interest to MMA members are as follows:

22

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

2017 Legislative Statistics Bill Draft Requests

2,644

Bills Introduced

1,188

Bills That Became Law

446

Resolutions Adopted

98

Bills Vetoed by the Governor

56

Bills Not Signed by the Governor That Became Law

16

Mining HB 502, Clarify Recreational Prospecting Exemption, Jean Price (D) HD 24, Died in Standing Committee This is a bill that proposed a solution in search of a problem.

The bill sought to clarify the exemption from the Metal Mine Reclamation Act (MMRA) for recreational prospecting; sought a finding that recreational prospecting is a historical, traditional right to use land responsibly; and sought to define the term "recreational prospecting.” The bill was unnecessary and perhaps even created problems where one currently does not exist. The MMA opposed this bill without significant amendments.

HB 593, Revise Metal Mining Laws, Nate McConnell (D) HD 89, Died in Standing Committee MMA strongly opposed this legislation. HB 593 added a new section of law to the Metal Mine Reclamation Act (MMRA), requiring third-party audits of operation permit compliance and performance bond adequacy every three years. Another section gave the Board of Environmental Review rulemaking authority to determine a level of sulfide mineralization that would require a 150-percent bond be secured.

The new section pertaining to third-party audits of operation permit compliance is redundant and unnecessary. The DEQ is already competently preforming compliance inspections as prescribed by Montana law and rules. On-site inspections are required on at least an annual basis, and most large-scale operations are frequently inspected as often as quarterly. Operating mines are required to submit annual reports and other monitoring reports regarding separate permits including those pertaining to air quality, water quality and water management.

The new section of law pertaining to bonding using sulfide mineralization as the determining factor for the arbitrary 150-percent bond requirement is problematic and has no scientific basis on its own. Most mineral bodies have some level of sulfide mineralization, and it is not solely the level of sulfides

that determines whether acid rock drainage will occur. Under stringent state and federal laws, all projects must meet strict non-degradation standards regardless of the sulfide content. If an operator can’t meet the strict state standards, a permit cannot be issued. Further, sulfide content is irrelevant as a standalone determining factor. Permits and bonds account for any potential ARD management requirements and the costs associated with the proper and approved reclamation plan.

Our operating and producing mines are bonded for 100 percent of the costs necessary to ensure reclamation is completed as prescribed and administered by the state and, if applicable, approved by federal partners, before construction can commence. Bonding calculations include: direct reclamation costs; indirect reclamation costs; mobilization; contingencies; engineering and design updates; third-party contracting costs; and reclamation management.

Water HB 104, Statutory Appropriation for Ground Water Investigation Program, Carl Glimm (R) HD 6, Died in Standing Committee The Ground Water Investigation Program (GWIP) is administered by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology. HB 104 sought to make a statutory appropriation on an annual basis of $250,000, plus the inflation factor, to the GWIP account. A difficult budget year prevented this from happening at this time.

MMA supported this legislation.

HB 107, Establish Surface Water Assessment and Monitoring Program, Carl Glimm (R) HD 6, Died in Standing Committee HB 107 required the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology to develop and implement a surface water assessment and monitoring program for the purpose of collecting and compiling surface water information. The legislation provided for specific program duties very similar to the GWIP structure, and provided for a statutory appropriation. There was no apparent disagreement that the program was desired and necessary but again, the budget shortfalls did not allow this to become a reality this session. MMA supported this legislation.

HB 339, Revise Laws Related to Exempt Appropriations of Water, Carl Glimm (R) HD 6, Vetoed by Governor HB 339 provided a definition for a "combined appropriation"; clarified conditions for exempt appropriations of water; limited the physical location of certain exempt appropriations of water; and provided that a combined appropriation requires a water right permit. HB 339, was a carefully crafted measure to settle how, when and where an exempt well can be used, and provided for a necessary definition of “combined appropriation.”

Litigation several years ago resulted in the need for a measure like HB 339 and for several sessions now, this litigation driven problem has had numerous legislatively proposed solutions. We will again be looking for a solution to the problem in 2019.

MMA supported this legislation.

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23

HB 360, Establish Surface Water Assessment and Monitoring Program, Bradley Hamlett (D) HD 23, Chapter Number Assigned After HB 107 (see above) died in committee, another bill was crafted to establish the surface water assessment and monitoring program without the appropriation. The program will be established and program duties will be outlined. When, and if, money is available from the public or private sector, the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology will be able to move forward with the collection and compiling of surface water information and other work items. MMA supported this legislation.

Taxes HB 156, Extend Statutory Appropriation from Hard Rock Mining Impact Trust Account, Forrest Mandeville (R) HD 57, Chapter Number Assigned HB 156 sought to make permanent the statutory appropriation for the county payment from the hard-rock mining impact trust fund. These monies are derived from payment of the Metal Mines License Tax. The bill was amended to allow the statutory appropriation for an additional 10 years rather than making it permanent. MMA supported this legislation.

HB 226, Allow Increased Property Tax Abatement for New or Expanding Industry, Zac Perry (D) HD 3, Chapter Number Assigned HB 226 allows for qualifying improvements or modernized processes that represent new industry or expansion of an existing industry, as designated in the approving resolution by a local government, to be taxed at 25 percent or 50 percent of their taxable value in the first five years after a construction permit is issued. Each year thereafter, the percentage must be increased by equal percentages until the full taxable value is attained in the 10th year. In subsequent years, the property must be taxed at 100 percent of its taxable value. MMA monitored this legislation.

HB 473, Revise Highway Revenue Laws, Frank Garner (R) HD 7, Chapter Number Assigned HB 473 is more commonly referred to as the “gas tax” bill. An infrastructure bill that increases the current gas tax of 27 cents per gallon to 31.5 cents in fiscal years 2018 and 2019; 32 cents in fiscal years 2020 and 2021; 32.5 cents in fiscal year 2022; and 33 cents in fiscal year 2023 and thereafter. It increases the current 23¾ cents per gallon tax on diesel to 29.25 cents in fiscal years 2018 and 2019; 29.45 cents in fiscal years 2020 and 2021; 29.55 cents in fiscal year 2022; and 29.75 cents in fiscal year 2023 and thereafter. MMA monitored this legislation.

SB 132, Revise Tax Laws Related to Pollution Control Equipment, Tom Richmond (R) SD 28, Chapter Number Assigned SB 132 made permanent the exemption for certain air and water pollution control and carbon capture equipment and for the reduction in value for carbon transportation and sequestration equipment. MMA supported this legislation.

Sage Grouse HB 211, Require Sage Grouse Population Report, Bradley Hamlett (D) HD 23, Chapter Number Assigned

24

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

HB 211 requires the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to report current sage grouse population numbers, including the number of leks, to the Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team and the Environmental Quality Council on an annual basis. The report must include seasonal and historic population data available from the department or any other source. MMA supported this legislation.

HB 228, Provide Funding for Sage Grouse Stewardship, Jim Keane (D) HD 73, Chapter Number Assigned HB 228 transfers $2 million on an annual basis from the state general fund to the sage grouse stewardship account for fiscal years 2018 through 2021. Money deposited in the account is statutorily appropriated and must be used for the administration of, and to maintain, enhance, restore, expand or benefit sage grouse habitat and populations for the heritage of Montana and its people. Administrative costs paid from the account are limited to $400,000 in each fiscal year. MMA supported this legislation.

SB 284, Generally Revise Laws Related to Sage Grouse, Mike Lang (R) SD 17, Chapter Number Assigned SB 284 cleaned up language as it relates to the Montana Greater Sage-Grouse Stewardship Act to ensure this is a Montana-centered effort. It makes clear that implementation of a habitat quantification tool or mitigation measures do not require federal approval but that Montana will consider all applicable USFWS sage grouse policies. MMA supported this legislation.

Environmental SB 109, Revise Environmental Review Process to Include Analysis of Impact Beyond Montana, Mike Phillips (D) SD 31, Died in Standing Committee SB 109 sought to change current law to provide that the scope of an environmental review may include an examination of impacts beyond Montana’s borders. Currently environmental reviews do not include impact outside of Montana’s unless the Montana’s FWP is conducting the environmental review for the management of wildlife and fish, or an agency, in cooperation with a federal agency, to the extent that the review is required by the federal agency; or that law, rule or regulation requires the broader review. MMA opposed this legislation.

SB 190, Establish Monitoring and Reporting Requirements for Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Mike Phillips (D) SD 31, Died in Process SB 190 required the Board of Environmental Review (BER) to adopt rules and fees for the reporting and quantification of greenhouse gas emissions; established a greenhouse gas management account; required the BER to report to the Environmental Quality Council and provide a proposal for reducing and capping emissions in Montana. The fees, in an amount sufficient to cover the direct and indirect costs of administering and complying with the rules and requirements established pursuant to the legislation, would be assessed only on those who are emitters. In other words, those with an air quality permit, which is a very small number of businesses in Montana. MMA opposed this legislation.

SB 337, Eliminate Board of Environmental Review, Duane Ankney (R) SD 20, Vetoed by Governor SB 337 eliminated the Board of Environmental Review and reassigned the duties, powers, and rulemaking authority of the BER to the Montana DEQ. Contested case provisions of the Montana Administrative Procedure Act would still apply under the Montana DEQ. Functionally, the Montana DEQ performs most of the day-to-day duties for the BER. The Montana DEQ also writes most of the rules that go before the appointed citizen BER. MMA monitored this legislation.

Resolutions HJ 9, Resolution Supporting the Release of Certain Wilderness Study Areas, Kerry White (R) HD 64, Filed with Secretary of State A joint resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Montana, HJ 9 urges the United States Congress to release certain wilderness study areas in Montana from consideration for inclusion in the national wilderness preservation system.

Currently 663,000 acres of land in Montana are designated under the 1977 Montana Wilderness Study Act, including the: (1) West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area comprising approximately 151,000 acres; (2) Blue Joint Wilderness Study Area comprising approximately 61,000 acres; (3) Sapphire Wilderness Study Area comprising approximately 94,000 acres; (4) Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area comprising approximately 34,000 acres; (5) Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area comprising approximately 81,000 acres;(6) Big Snowies Wilderness Study Area comprising approximately 91,000 acres; and (7) HyalitePorcupine-Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area comprising approximately 151,000 acres. The five-year period for review mandated by the Montana Wilderness Study Act expired in 1982. MMA monitored this legislation.

HJ 15, Resolution Urging the Delisting of Grizzly Bears, Steve Gunderson (R) HD 1, Filed with Secretary of State

A joint resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Montana, HJ 15 requests that Montana's congressional delegation introduce federal legislation to return management of Montana's grizzly bear population to the State of Montana.

The Montana Legislature calls upon the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revise the 1993 Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan and reevaluate the Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone efficacy rangewide; requests that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service create a statewide distinct population segment that includes all of Montana's grizzly bear recovery zones for the purpose of delisting the bear and returning grizzly bear management to state control; that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service develop a new management plan that would aim to resolve conflicts between bears and humans within the Northern Continental Divide Recovery Zone; and that Montana's Congressional Delegation, as part of its efforts to return management of Montana's grizzly bear population to the State of Montana, to exempt the delisting of grizzly bear populations from judicial review. MMA monitored this legislation.

SJ 6, Resolution Urging Regulation Freedom Amendment to US Constitution, Duane Ankney (R) SD 20, Filed with Secretary of State A joint resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Montana, SJ 6 urges Congress to propose the Regulation Freedom Amendment to the United States Constitution.

SJ 6 urges Congress to propose the Regulation Freedom Amendment to the United States Constitution as follows: "Whenever one quarter of the members of the United States House of Representatives or the United States Senate transmits to the President their written declaration of opposition to a proposed federal regulation, it shall require a majority vote of the House of Representatives and the Senate to adopt that regulation."

The Montana Legislature found in SJ 6 that the growth and abuse of federal regulatory authority threaten our constitutional liberties, including those guaranteed by the Bill of Rights in the

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Amendments of our Constitution; and that federal regulators must be more accountable to elected representatives of the people and not immune from such accountability. MMA supported this legislation.

SR 21, Confirm Governor Appointee for Director of Dept. of Environmental Quality, Chas Vincent (R) SD 1, Filed with Secretary of State SR 21 concurs in, confirms, and consents to the appointment of Tom Livers as the Director of the Montana DEQ. MMA supported this legislation.

SR 40, SR 41, SR 42 Confirm Governor’s Appointees to Board of Environmental Review, Chas Vincent (R) SD 1, All Died in Standing Committee All three Senate Resolutions sought to confirm the governor’s nominations to the Board of Environmental Review. Those nominated by the Governor are as follows: Dr. Robert Byron, Hardin, Montana; Mr. Roy O'Connor, Missoula, Montana; and Ms. Michele Reinhart Levine, Great Falls, Montana. Without Senate confirmation of the nominations, the Governor is required to appoint Montanans to the Board of Environmental Review during the interim. On Aug. 8, 2017, Gov. Steve Bullock announced the following to the Board of Environmental Review: Dexter Busby, Great Falls. Qualification: experience or background in environmental science. Busby is retired from a career as director of government affairs for the Refining Company; John DeArment, Missoula. Qualification: experience or background in hydrology.

DeArment is the CEO of Garlington, Lohn & Robinson; Christine Deveny, Helena. Qualification: expertise or background in local government planning. Deveny is retired from a career in public and environmental health and will serve as chairperson; John Felton, Billings. Qualification: expertise or background as county health officer or as a medical doctor. Felton is the president and CEO of RiverStone Health and is a Yellowstone county health officer; Hillary Hanson, Kalispell. Qualification: public representative. Hanson is the public health officer in Flathead County; Chris Tweeten, Missoula. Qualification: attorney. Tweeten operates a law practice in Missoula representing state and local governments; and Tim Warner, Bozeman. Qualification: public representative. Warner is founder and president of Plazby Solutions, a marketing, advertising and communication company in Bozeman. MMA monitored this legislation.

SR 48, Confirm Governor's Appointees to Hard-Rock Mining Impact Board, Duane Ankney (R) SD 20, Died in Standing Committee The governor submitted the following nominations to the Senate for confirmation: Kay Clevidence, Victor, Montana; Joe Michaletz, Helena, Montana; and Tim Warner, Bozeman, Montana. The Senate did not confirm the nominations. The Governor is required to appoint members to the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Board during the interim. At the time of this writing the appointments have not been made. MMA monitored this legislation.

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27

Montana City plant helps Ash Grove Cement be No. 1 The Ash Grove Cement Company is the largest Americanowned cement manufacturer in the United States

By Dick Johnson

Dumping limestone in the primary crusher.

New plant and office.

28

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Concrete is the single most widely used building material in the world, and the Ash Grove Cement Company is the largest American-owned cement manufacturer in the country.

Ash Grove owns and operates a cement manufacturing facility and associated quarries in the Montana City area just south of Helena, Mont., one of its eight plants in the United States. The facility was built by the Kaiser Cement Corporation in 1962, mainly to supply cement for the Yellowtail and Hungry Horse Dam construction projects. Although a modified design by the Kaiser Engineers Group, the plant was similar in size to many plants built back in those days, with a long, wet 450inch kiln and around a 300,000-ton-peryear capacity. Kaiser Cement was eventually bought out by Hanson Industries, who broke up the company and sold the Montana City plant to Ash Grove in 1987. Ash Grove is entering its 30th year in operation of the facility.

The Ash Grove Cement Company was created in 1882 and has been familyowned for four generations. We’re a pioneer of the cement industry, and we’re incredibly proud of our history and legacy of leadership. The quality portland cement produced at the Montana City plant is used in the construction of highways, bridges, commercial and industrial complexes, single- and multi-family homes and a myriad of other structures fundamental to America’s vitality and quality of life. The cement from this facility is shipped to markets in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Canada.

The raw materials used in the manufacturing process have changed very little since the plant was built. Local-area limestone from the Madison and Jefferson formations are the main ingredient in the process with the shale and silica also local to the plant. The plant has also used the Asarco slag for years as an iron source. Montana coal and coke have also been used to fire the kiln for many years. The gypsum used to inter-grind with the clinker in the final manufacturing step is currently the only raw material not from Montana and comes from northern Wyoming.

Quality, safety, environmental compliance and community outreach are top priorities for us. Safety and compliance at the plant are a source of pride and always top of mind. The plant is certified as ISO 14001 compliant, an international standard for excellence in environmental management. The Montana City facility enjoys a high environmental compliance rate, ensuring that it complies with all state and federal rules

New plant in operation.

and regulations. In safety, just last year, the Portland Cement Association recognized the plant with its PCA Innovations in Safety award for the design and implementation of a unique access platform.

Ash Grove provides many quality jobs for the area, and not only at the plant. Due to the nature of our operations, an additional 800 local jobs have been created to support our businesses.

We also provide a good tax base for the community. Through donations from our

charitable foundations and employee volunteerism, Ash Grove supports many projects in the area, including parks and trails, tennis courts at Jefferson High, the expansion of the Montana City School, the new home for the Montana City Volunteer Fire Department, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Florence Crittenton Home and Big Brothers and Sisters of Helena.

The Ash Grove Montana City plant is proud to be part of the Montana mining community.

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From a dedicated technical services laboratory, to ISO 14001-certified environmental control technology, Ash Grove has the tools and talent to reliably deliver high-quality, consistent, American-made materials that meet customer deadlines and project owner specifications.

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29

Through thick and thin

Mark Cole has worked at Dick Irvin, Inc. (DII) since 1973, and not once during his years with the company did his passion, determination and loyalty waver from his job.

Cole started out as a dispatcher for DII, based out of Shelby, Mont., a dry bulk carrier with mostly pneumatic equipment. Nowadays, Cole is one of the principals for DII, overseeing government and public affairs and some administrative duties.

Back in 1973, Cole says it was himself and another gentleman who took him under his wing, teaching him the ropes.

“I was not familiar with the over-theroad trucks when I took the job,” he says.

Toole & Feeback, PLLC • Mining Law And Litigation • Property Law • Water Law • Lobbying For The Mining Industry 702 Main Street, P.O.Box 907 Lincoln, Montana, 59639 Office (406) 362-4025 Fax (406) 362-4090

“I was fresh out of college. I had no set career plans; I was married with a oneyear-old baby boy when I went to work in Shelby.”

Cole went to Montana State University and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in commerce. Fortunately he has been able to utilize this education in his career and had no second thoughts or regrets in having accepted the position with DII. DII was established in 1951 by a young man named Charles R. “Dick” Irvin. Along with his wife Pat, he started with a single grain truck and grew it to the company it is today. According to Cole, it is one of this field’s leaders in northwestern United States and western Canada.

While Cole was in the early stages of his career with DII, he helped to develop the company’s safety program, participated in various industry safety organizations and seminars, managed the insurance requirements, developed necessary operating authorities in the U.S. and Canada and continually promoted the advantages of utilizing the services of DII, to name a few of his past duties and accomplishments.

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“There are always some challenges in the trucking industry regulations and politics, and I participate in supporting and testifying in favor of the industry position,” Cole says. “We also support the industries that support us. Agriculture, construction and mining, including oil, are most important.”

About 44 years later, Cole is still standing strong alongside DII. One of the reasons he stayed is the supportive familyoriented atmosphere of the business. Cole now has a daughter who is married with five boys and a son who is married with two boys and a girl – but that’s not the only family in his life that he cherishes.

“The thing that we try to do here with our employees is include them as part of the organization,” he says. “We emphasize that this is a family-run and familyoriented business. There are many examples over the years where we have gone far beyond an employer’s responsibility in supporting our employees in sickness or through other problems. We always try to be there for them. That’s of primary importance to us. We take great pride in providing our people a wage and benefit package that is second to none in the industry.”

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

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Bringing tomorrow’s technology to Montana

Hecla first opened for business in 1891.

The company’s rich, 125-year history has been built by harnessing technological advancement, which continues to be central to Hecla’s success.

Hecla utilizes new technologies to not only improve production and performance, but more importantly to improve mine safety both for the workers and the environments in which they operate. The company is using modern technology to serve its core values of safety and environmental stewardship.

These new technologies will take center stage as Hecla subsidiaries proceed with the development of the Rock Creek and Montanore projects in northwest Montana.

Some of the technologies being employed by Hecla in underground mining include high-speed wireless data and communications technology, remote control and automation and battery power.

Modern communications technology allows Hecla to monitor workers,

equipment and mine conditions in order to ensure safe and environmentally responsible mining. Miners’ equipment and cap lamps are equipped with personalized radio frequency identification (RFID) tags which provide real-time location and tracking information inside the mine. It also allows for instant communication between miners underground and managers, engineers and safety personnel on the surface.

The advent of new communications technology also allows Hecla to continuously monitor, record and alarm for potentially dangerous environmental conditions. The new instrumentation monitors mine gasses, air temperature and humidity, air flow rates, water levels and mine facility security to protect the health and safety of both the mine workers and the environment.

Using modern automation and remote control technologies, Hecla has improved mine production and safety.

Automated equipment allows drills to

operate between shifts and improve efficiency and safety in ore mining and hauling. Remote-controlled equipment, such as fans and pumps, rock breakers and conveyors, allow for personnel to operate equipment from safe locations.

Hecla is also working to increase the use of battery-powered equipment.

Battery-powered trucks and loaders are already replacing diesels on the surface, eliminating the emission of diesel particulates into the air and reducing the heat output into the underground mine environment. Hecla is now testing battery-powered units for underground use, which could further reduce emissions and heat output inside the mines.

Technology has changed the world, and the changes will continue at an everincreasing pace. With the increasing changes come increasing opportunities, as well as increasing demand for metals.

The enormous increase in demand for renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, have also greatly increased the demand for copper and silver. The construction of wind turbines and solar panels requires not just steel and copper, but also silicon, aluminum and silver.

The solar industry alone is estimated to consume roughly five percent of the world’s total silver supply. As demand for these renewable energy sources increases, so will the demand for copper and silver.

This increasing demand will push the development of more and more technology, which will further change the way companies operate. Hecla is used to changing circumstances, the company’s 125-year history is living proof of adaptability and persistence. What hasn’t changed during that century and a quarter is Hecla’s commitment to safe and environmentally responsible mining. That commitment, and the new mining technologies that strengthen it, are what Hecla is bringing to northwest Montana.

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32

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Providing Montana mining with solutions and support for long-term success

Anderson is enjoying a fishing trip near Sitka, Alaska. “A great day on the water, despite the 12’ seas!” he says.

Anderson and Sharla, off of Duck Key, Fla., with a 30-pound mahi-mahi that Sharla caught, which is now on a wall in their home.

For Chris Anderson, working in sales in the waterworks infrastructure business in a mining town presents all kinds of challenges, but ones that make the job interesting and rewarding.

Born in Anaconda and raised in Townsend, Mont., Anderson is no stranger to the mining communities of the state, or to the waterworks industry.

“My grandfather was a plumber and ran the water plant in Helena for years,” he says. Add to that a job on his uncle’s ranch in propane services that provided experience with fusible pipe, and Anderson was prepped for a role with HD Supply Waterworks.

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“It was an easy transition,” he says. “I came into HD in 2003, first taking a job as a driver, then moved to inside sales, operations management and eventually to an outside sales role, where I’ve been since 2011.”

So how does a waterworks sales guy fit into the mining community? In mining, Anderson says HDPE pipe is in demand for dewatering and washing out mine tailing systems.

“And they have to move water, so that means there is also a need for pumps, valves and other products we sell.”

To serve the mining industry, HD Supply Waterworks offers

Mining & Minerals

Montana Mining Solutions for the Complete Mining Lifecycle

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Helena 406.443.5210

Missoula 406.543.3045

a nationwide, full line of HDPE pipe, fittings, fusion equipment and field fusion technicians.

The mining industry is a growing part of the waterworks business, according to Anderson, with huge potential. “It’s very rewarding. The best part of the business is the people I meet and get to work with,” Anderson says. “In being with a company like HD Supply Waterworks, with our varied inventory, I feel like I have an edge, and can be a ‘superhero’ in helping our customers with their needs, especially when they need something in a hurry. We’re large enough that there’s almost nothing we can’t provide at any time.”

Anderson says the challenges come when tackling specifications within the government’s industry restrictions. “A lot of these mines are against the wall to make a profit while still meeting regulatory requirements and being attentive to environmental concerns. We have to make sure our solutions satisfy the customers’ requirements as well as ensuring compli-

At a customer site in Bozeman, Mont., Anderson removes the main valve from a fire hydrant. “We do anything to help our customers!” he says.

ance when it comes to moving water.”

If there is a worst part of the job, Anderson says it would be seeing customers’ companies not succeed. “Some start out and think they’re going to make it big but grow too fast. Because we’re so weather-driven here, that can be an issue, or the economy may impact them. And then suddenly I see them looking for jobs – and that’s hard.”

Anderson says he’s very much a people person, but he’s also at ease in the hills. He embraces the nature of his home state and the beauty of outdoor life. When not selling and supporting his mining community, he’s out fishing, hunting and camping, both in Montana and locations across the country. He is married to Sharla and has a dog named Copper – perhaps a fitting name for the Basset Hound whose best friend happens to work in the mining business.

MONTANA

Copper, in their backyard north of Bozeman. “Copper is looking for gophers,” Anderson says, “and while I don’t think he’s ever caught one, he likes to chase them and let them know who’s boss of the yard.”

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Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

35

EPA’s proposed rule for financial responsibility requirements for the hard-rock mining industry under CERCLA Section 108(b) What is CERCLA Section 108(b)?

When CERCLA was passed on Dec. 11, 1980, Congress directed the Executive Branch to implement financial responsibility requirements in accordance with the “degree and duration of risk” associated with the “production, transportation, treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous substances.”

At the time CERCLA was enacted, the Executive Branch did not take action, nor did it take action after the Superfund reauthorization in 1986. Similarly, the EPA did nothing after it was delegated implementation authority in 1987 through Executive Order 12580. In the decades that have passed, it has been primarily individual states, like Montana, who have filled this void and satisfied any need for financial assurance regulation within their jurisdictions.

Over time, these states have increased their oversight of mining practices and they have developed comprehensive regulatory regimes covering all aspects of mine permitting, reclamation and bonding.

Current State Laws Current state laws, like the Montana Metal Mine Reclamation Act (known as MMRA), tie financial assurance requirements of each mine to its individual permit, and each mine permit is scrutinized on a continual basis.

In Montana, financial responsibility requirements for hard-rock mining operations are fully covered under the MMRA with additional coverage in the Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act (CECRA) and the Montana Water Quality Act (MWQA).

While the MMRA’s financial responsibility requirements apply broadly to

36

nearly all mining operations and related activities, CECRA provides backup requirements for parties liable for Superfund cleanup, and the MWQA addresses additional voluntary bonds for long-term water treatment.

State Agency Best Positioned In Montana, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) enforces financial requirements. Due to the rich mining history in the Treasure State and Montana DEQ’s vast experience in dealing with local hard-rock mining projects, Montana DEQ is best positioned to oversee these issues and ensure that financial assurances are consistent with the needs and scope of local mining projects. Under the MMRA, Montana DEQ requires a bond to be in place before the grant of the initial mining permit. This early bond must cover all costs associated with reclamation under the permit and all potential costs for the management, operation, and maintenance of a site in the event the operator goes insolvent or abandons the mining project.

The bond is also required to cover all estimated costs necessary to ensure compliance with the MWQA and the Clean Air Act. The MMRA requires bonding for mining operations on federal, state, and private lands, and state agencies work together to determine appropriate bond amounts, allowing for the consideration of unique site characteristics and the existence of advanced technologies.

DEQ applies both the MMRA and CECRA in reviewing appropriate forms of bonding, such as cash deposits, certificates of deposit, letter of credit and surety bonds, and regulates all aspects

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

of the bond release in conjunction with the finalization of reclamation. During the life of the mine, bonds under the MMRA are reviewed regularly and Montana imposes additional requirements of yearly environmental monitoring. The MMRA gives appropriate authority to Montana DEQ to take enforcement actions and seize bonds as needed to protect Montana’s environment and its citizens if an operator is out of compliance with an approved operating and reclamation plan.

Overreach EPA fails to take into consideration relevant advances in production, transportation, treatment, storage or disposal in the mining industry, and how those advances affect the degree of risk outlined in Section 108(b). Most notably, the equation proposed by the EPA fails to take into consideration the unique environmental and operational characteristics of each mining operation.

This inflexibility in the proposed rule does not reflect the language or intent of CERCLA. Moreover, the formula outlined under the proposed rule exceeds EPA’s authority by including natural resource damages. Under the controlling law, natural resource damages can only be calculated by the agency-trustees, not the EPA. There is no proper delegation to the EPA, therefore the agency does not have the designated-trustee authority to assess natural resource damages called for in the proposed rule.

Duplicative Conflicts Other agencies have already helped to fill any void left by the EPA’s inaction in the 1980s. This includes the United States Forest Service, which comment-

ed that the current version of the EPA’s proposed rule because it duplicates financial responsibility requirements previously imposed by that federal agency.

Likewise, EPA’s proposed rule conflicts with financial requirements and regulations previously promulgated by the same agency, including monitoring regulations under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and bonding requirements associated with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Conflicts with federal agencies are compounded by the proposed rule’s complete duplication of, and conflict with, current state laws. When laws completely duplicate each other, there are sure to be conflicts. Thus, while many states have financial requirements that exceed the proposed rule, state requirements are constructed differently, involve different considerations than EPA’s proposed equation and will result in a high likelihood of conflicts.

With its initial introduction to the proposed rule, the EPA stated that it does not evaluate, assign or analyze financial responsibility in the same manner as state regulatory programs, and, therefore, the new rule will not preempt state law. This statement by the EPA, however, only highlights the differences where conflicts will come from. Notably, the EPA reluctantly acknowledged that preemption issues do exist and will likely be a litigious issue left for courts to decide on a “case-by-case” basis. In essence, the result of this rulemaking process is litigation and unpredictability.

to predict the “ultimate availability of CERCLA § 108(b) financial responsibility instruments” is unacceptable. The EPA should not be allowed to leave the industry with unmanageable financial constraints.

Conclusion The mining industry is critical to the state of Montana. In Montana, metal mining alone accounts for nearly 7,000 direct and indirect jobs, $579 million in labor income and contributes over $1

billion dollars to Montana’s GDP. The MMA strongly suggests that this proposed rule has the potential to significantly harm or will cause cessation of our Montana mining operations.

Clearly, this proposed rule should not be promulgated as it exceeds the authority granted to the EPA, is unnecessary, duplicates state law requirements, relies on incomplete studies, and it inappropriately targets the hard rock mining industry.

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The proposed rule relies on a faulty marketing capacity study that does not take into account the ability or willingness of the bonding/insurance industry to even cover future bonding requirements. EPA’s marketing capacity study is inconclusive, floundering and shows a complete lack of certainty regarding how the proposed rule will affect the mining industry. The EPA’s excuse that there are too many unknown factors

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37

Tintina Resources’ Black Butte update Tintina Resources Inc. is developing the Black Butte Copper Project in central Montana. At nearly one billion pounds of 3.6 percent copper, it is not only one of the highest-grade copper deposits under development in the world, but as an underground mine with a small environmental footprint, it will also be a leader in environmental sustainability.

After an intensive five years of resource delineation, a preliminary economic assessment (PEA), extensive baseline environmental work, high-tech mine design work and expanding public outreach, Tintina submitted an application for a mine operating permit to Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the Johnny Lee deposit in December of 2015. Having just completed its first year of the permitting process through Montana’s new completeness and compliance laws, Tintina is now approaching conclusion of this phase of the process and looking forward to heading into an environmental impact study (EIS).

Black Butte’s Johnny Lee deposit is located entirely on private ranch land, 100-percent controlled by the company and 17 highway miles north of White Sulphur Springs, Mont. White Sulphur, a ranching community of about 950 people, is tremendously supportive of the project where neighbors have watched the company honor their slogan, “Doing It Right from the Beginning”.

The project will have the lowest environmental impact of any

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new copper development project worldwide. To ensure this, several high-tech design precautions, including the following, have been taken to safeguard that the water in Sheep Creek and the Smith River remain pristine throughout the life cycle of the project and beyond: • Tintina’s mining and environmental engineering professionals have strategically placed the main access tunnel and portal and all other planned openings or entry points to the mine (including air ventilation and secondary escape routes) far above the water table. In fact, the main access tunnel opening is 170 feet above the water level.

• During operations, ground water pumped out of the mine along with surface water from precipitation that falls on surface facilities will be collected, monitored, tested and treated before being placed back into the ground water system through an underground infiltration system buried six to eight feet below the surface.

• State-of-the-art water treatment, reverse osmosis (RO), will be used for the duration of the mining operation and will remain post-mining for as long as needed.

• There will be no rock from mining operations left on surface at the end of mine life from which metals might leach over time.

Approximately half of the tailings will be placed back under-

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

ground as cemented paste back fill and the other half will be mixed with cement and pumped into a lined cemented tailings facility.

• This highly engineered design allows all land to return to agricultural uses after reclamation with no need to treat water in perpetuity.

• Tintina has contracted with third-party experts who have constructed rigorous geochemical and hydrologic models, proving there will be no impact on water quantity or quality in local streams during operation or after reclamation.

After the 12 to 14 years of mine life ends, Tintina’s reclamation plan includes capping the double-lined cemented tailings facility with liner, fill and sod, removing buildings and re-contouring any disturbed surface, restoring topsoil, and bulkheading the access tunnel at the water table and at the surface. Every bit of the mine site surface returns to its primary historic use – cattle grazing.

Reclamation will be fully bonded as a condition of activating the mining permit from the Montana DEQ. Black Butte’s exceptionally high-quality resource with a measured and indicated resource of 11.6 Mt at 3.6 percent copper at the Johnny Lee Deposit has two massive sulfide lenses of copper mineralization: an upper zone reaching from 600 to within 150 feet of the surface, and a lower zone at a depth of 1,100 to

1,500feet and containing a respectable 6.4 percent copper. Tintina plans a 3,300-tons-per-day “drift and fill” underground mining operation utilizing a 5,000-by-17-by-17-foot decline access. During operation, the copper-rich rock will pass through a standard flotation mill producing approximately 400 tons of chalcopyrite concentrate (24 percent copper) per day and will have 240 full-time employees and 25 full-time contractors.

Tintina’s preliminary economic assessment, produced at a base case copper price of $3.05 per pound, showed an after tax NPV of $110 million and an after-tax IRR of 20 percent. The PEA projects capitalization at $218 million. The high copper grade ensures low placement on the cost curve worldwide, and thus the ability to better withstand market fluctuations. The quality of the project has attracted world-class, long-term investors who are strongly supportive of bringing the project to production while meeting and exceeding the environmental standards needed to ensure our industries continued social license.

Disclaimer: Please see the technical report entitled “Updated Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Black Butte Copper Project, Montana” dated July 12, 2013 (the “PEA”), which is available on SEDAR, for more information.

The PEA is preliminary in nature; it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Tours are offered the first of every month, please call to reserve a spot.

Tintina Resources Inc. | Phone: 406-547-3466

P.O. Box 431, 17 East Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645 Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

39

Sibanye-Stillwater continues development at its Montana mines Sibanye-Stillwater (Company) is the only United States miner of platinum group metals (PGMs) and the largest primary producer of PGMs outside of South Africa and the Russian Federation.

PGMs are rare precious metals used in a wide variety of applications, including automobile catalysts, fuel cells, hydrogen purification, electronics, jewelry, dentistry, medicine and coinage. The Company is engaged in the development, extraction and processing of PGMs from a geological formation in south-central Montana recognized as the J-M Reef. The J-M Reef is the only known significant source of PGMs in the U.S. and the highest-grade PGM resource known in the world. The Company also recycles PGMs from spent catalytic converters and other industrial sources.

The Company also owns the Marathon

PGM-copper deposit in Ontario, Canada, and the Altar porphyry copper-gold deposit located in the San Juan province of Argentina. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SBGL". Information about the Company can be found at its website at www.sibanyestillwater.com.

A key element of Sibanye-Stillwater’s development activities at its Montana mines consists of ongoing efforts to convert its established probable ore reserves into proven ore reserves by extending the lateral and vertical development of the Stillwater and East Boulder mines, which provides access for definition drilling and evaluation. These ongoing activities also include constructing and extending mine development workings to access established ore reserves and continuously ad-

Stillwater Mine.

vancing definition drilling, engineering and mine planning to replace depleted ore reserves.

Blitz Project The Company is continuing to develop new mining infrastructure adjacent to its current operations along the J-M Reef. The Blitz development includes three principal elements: a tunnel boring machine, or TBM, targeting to drive approximately 23,000 feet of access tunnel to the east from the existing Stillwater Mine infrastructure; a second underground drift parallel to the TBM drive and approximately 600 feet above it, driven by conventional methods; and the construction of a new surface Benbow Exploration Portal Decline intended to intersect the two Blitz drifts approximately four miles to the east

EB Mine.

Lower EB.

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Blitz Project.

40

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

of the existing Stillwater Mine facilities. As these drives advance, definitional and probe drilling will be performed to further enhance the Company’s understanding of the ge-

Stillwater Palladium, makes more possible...

ology in this area.

New engineering work is in process. A significantly expanded project scope with minimal cost increase now includes the lower Blitz area below 5,000 level. Total capital spend for Blitz is expected to be $250 million, and approximately 20,200 feet of ramp and infrastructure were completed by Q3 of 2016. Construction of Benbow service facilities are nearly complete and excavation of the Benbow portal began during Q3 of 2016. First production is expected in late 2017 or early 2018. Production of 270,000 to 330,000 PGM ounces per year is now anticipated when fully ramped up by 2021 to 2022. We continue to see favorable drill results.

Graham Creek is the most recent expansion project at the East Boulder Mine with an 8,800-foot development at the west side of the mine.

Project infrastructure is complete and production began during 2014.

Development/drilling continues.

Lower East Boulder A prefeasibility study is underway to determine optimal method for next development below existing 6,500 rail level. The prefeasibility study is based on establishing a new

Growing Recycling Business Catalytic converters contain palladium, platinum and rhodium that are also produced from our underground mines at Stillwater and East Boulder. Catalytic converters dramatically reduce the toxicity of air emissions from internal combustion engines that are found in most of the vehicles we drive everyday. About half of the world’s palladium and platinum production is used in catalytic converters.

Stillwater Mining has sourced and recycled increasing volumes of spent catalytic converters since 1997. Our growing recycling business complements mine production and our reputation for environmental excellence. We continue to contribute to clean air for Montana and the rest of the world by mining and recycling platinum group metals.

The ongoing recycling efforts are another example of efficiencies and sustainability initiatives deployed at Stillwater Mining Company.

haulage level and access. Lower East Boulder already includes a large proven and probable reserve base.

Limited deep drilling confirmed the presence of the J-M Reef at the 4,000 level at typical East Boulder widths and grades. The prefeasibility study is examining an estimated combination of 150,000 to 200,000, replacement and growth and PGM ounces

www.stillwatermining.com

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per year scenario.

Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

41

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

MMA annual meetings rock! MMA annual meetings rock!

Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

43

Putting the spotlight on Barretts Minerals Inc. Located in southwestern Montana, Barretts Minerals Inc. mines talc from two world-class deposits and manufactures products used in a wide variety of industrial and consumer applications.

A wholly owned subsidiary of New York-based Minerals Technologies Inc. — a $1.8 billion-revenue multinational corporation — Barretts Minerals produces more than 70 different specialty products for automotive, construction, personal care and other diverse markets.

Talc resources from Barretts’ Treasure and Regal mines are renowned for their chemical purity and high brightness. The operation mines crude talc ore about 10 miles away from the company’s state-ofthe-art facility near Dillon, Mont., where it is processed using both wet and dry

technologies. The company’s products are shipped around the world.

“We’re a customer-driven organization that meets long-term customer needs with our broad manufacturing and packaging capabilities, as well as having a strong research base to develop innovative new product offerings,” says Kevin Porterfield, general manager at Global Talc. “We focus on product quality, employee safety and continuous improvement to assure that Barretts Minerals will be a sustainable business for many years to come.”

The company employs nearly 20 people at the mines and about 60 at the processing facility, according to Ben Raffety, mine manager at Barretts.

“In 2015, we paid more than $8

million in wages and benefits and over $1 million in property taxes in Madison and Beaverhead counties,” he says. “Barretts Minerals is also a major contributor to the local economy and to the community. In 2015, we made $3.7 million in payments to local contractors and vendors, and the company contributes more than 65 percent of the total annual donation for the Beaverhead County United Way through employee donations and a company matching contribution.”

Raffety explained that Barretts Minerals mines approximately 180,000 tons of crude talc ore a year, adding that the company is pursuing expansion projects for both mines that would ensure ore supply well into the future.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

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45

Keeping it REAL in Montana

By Cindy Chan This one-of-a-kind two-year program aims to train and build a network of informed and engaged leaders in the natural resource industry in Montana.

Established in 2013, the REAL (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership) Montana program had been in the works since 2012. Janelle Booth, program director for REAL Montana, says this initiative was created because, at the time, there had been a general consensus among industry leaders in the state that there was a need for leadership workshops focusing on working with people in different industries, ranging from farming to mining and so on.

Booth says the industry leaders started the conversation with Montana State University to put such a program together – and the rest is history.

“We started looking at the main issues facing Montana in a resource sense and structured seminars [around those issues],” Booth says.

The REAL Montana program is specifically designed as a training program for people who are already employed but want to step up and take on larger leadership roles in their industries.

A two-year cycle is called a class, and the first class – which took place from 2013 to 2015 – wrapped up in May of 2015.

The second class began in September of 2015 and will finish in 2017. Applications for the third class begin in March 2017.

“It is a competitive program to get in. We limit the class size to 20 participants,” Booth says, adding that the program has had twice as many people apply as they could allow into the program.

When selecting applicants, Booth says there isn’t a strict quota – instead, various factors are examined when picking students per class.

“What industry do they represent? What are their main goals?

How much initiative have they shown?” Booth says.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

In the two-year program, each year consists of five seminars.

Eight of the seminars take place within Montana, while the other two are out of state. Booth says one of those two seminars is an international excursion. Each seminar includes an educational component and a skill-building component. The skill-building components include running successful campaigns, fundraising, strategic planning and coalition building.

Class members practice their public speaking skills at each seminar through prepared and extemporaneous speeches, and two class members are put in charge of running the logistics of each seminar. A networking event is also held during each seminar which allows class members to meet local community and industry leaders.

In the 2015 to 2017 class, the first seminar focused on teambuilding and ethical leadership, which took place in Bozeman, Mont. Spouses were invited to attend. The second seminar taught students how to work with the media, where they received intensive communications training and learned how to answer tough interview questions. The third seminar looked at crop production, and the fourth seminar consisted of a trip to Washington, D.C. to learn about policy on a national scale. The fifth and last seminar of the first year of the program included learning about oil and gas development in eastern Montana.

In the second year of the program, the sixth seminar was a session on livestock and coal production. The seventh seminar focused on hard-rock mining in Butte, Mont.

“We learned all about the history of mining in the state and its importance to the nation, as well as the future of the mining industry,” Chaley Harney, executive director for the Montana Beef Council, says. Harney is currently in the second year of the program. “Mining may not seem to be directly tied to beef, but this seminar also incorporated a lot of collaboration between landowners, like beef producers, and mining companies. There has been a long history of these two associating over the years, and it is evident to see how they work together to utilize the land while being good stewards. There are numerous examples of stewardship, which is a major crossover concept for ranchers and mining companies, and sharing the stories of responsible landowners is part of my everyday job.

The innovation in the mining industry is another similarity to farming and ranching that I am now able to incorporate into my discussions.”

Bryan Lorengo, who is also in his second year of the program, echoes the sentiment. As the safety management consultant for the Montana Logging Association, Lorengo is an expert in his own industry, but he was enjoying learning about other industries as well.

“A lot of the same challenges we [in the timber industry] face, other industries are facing as well,” Lorengo says. “It’s very humbling be a part of this group. The partnership between the industries and academics is crucial, and that’s what this program is all about. We are all consumers of these products that the natural resources industries in Montana provide, and it’s important that the general public understands that.”

The eighth seminar will be a long one – a trip to Colombia for 10 days starting Jan. 2. Booth says while the trip will be exciting, it certainly won’t be a vacation.

“We’re pushing the class into a new environment to help them understand what it’s like to be leaders in another country, to be out of their comfort zone,” Booth explains. “With Colombia, there is a strong trade relationship with the U.S. When we’re in Colombia, there will definitely be a cultural component. The class will see the lifestyles of the people there.” Booth anticipates students will visit cocoa and coffee plantations, a hydroelectric dam, the embassy and so on.

The ninth seminar will consist of a state legislative session in Helena, Mont., and the final and 10th seminar is slated to take place in Kalispell and will focus on timber production. Afterwards, there will be a big graduation ceremony for the students where families are invited to attend and celebrate with them.

As the second year is wrapping up, Booth reflects and emphasizes on the overall goal of the program – training industry professionals to become better leaders.

Class member Molly Schwend (Cloud Peak Energy) speaks with Dan Banghart of Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine.

“The main thing is we want to equip people to take leadership roles. They’ve probably always had it in them, but they now have the training and education. They truly understand the issues and where they fit in. You can have a rancher that understands what is facing the mining industry. When you know people that are on these different sides and have engaged in intelligent conversations with them, that’s when change happens,” Booth says.

REAL Montana has selected the members of the new Class III. For more information, including the Class III members, visit www.realmontana.org.

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47

Women’s Mining Coalition honored for mining advocacy and education The three co-founders of the Women's Mining Coalition were honored to accept the 2016 Prazen Living Legend of Mining Award at the National Mining Hall of Fame’s awards banquet on September 24th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kathy Benedetto gave the acceptance speech on behalf of herself and her two co-founders, Ruth Carraher and Debbie Struhsacker, in front of 450-plus attendees representing a diverse cross-section of professionals from the mining industry. Almost 30 WMC members were in attendance at the banquet, some of whom stayed in Las Vegas to help staff the WMC booth during the subsequent National Mining Association MinExpo.

The Prazen Award is given annually to an individual or entity that has demonstrated ongoing, innovative work educat-

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Left to right: Sen. Heller’s legislative assistant, Devyn Hartmann; Newmont CEO Gary Goldberg; WMC co-founders Kathy Benedetto, Ruth Carraher and Debra Struhsacker.

ing the public, policymakers, educators or related institutions about the importance of the mineral and mining industry to our everyday lives (mininghalloffame.org).

After an unprecedented election of women to Congress in 1992, geologist Benedetto saw an opportunity to go to Washington, D.C. and educate these newly elected women lawmakers about minerals exploration and mining. Kathy recruited the help of two other female geologists, Carraher and Struhsacker, and together they organized what would become an annual fly-in to meet with our nation’s policymakers. Women’s Mining Coalition (WMC) evolved from that first fly-in in 1993 and its membership continues to actively educate and advocate for the mineral and mining industry.

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

The fly-ins garner the attention of our legislators and federal agencies and send the message that “a strong mining industry is vitally important to our nation, our communities, our families and our livelihoods.” WMC members emphasize that many jobs all across the country depend on mining and practically everything we use in our daily lives is the direct result of mined products.

WMC has recruited its membership from coast to coast and from all aspects of the mining industry: geologists, engineers, metallurgists, miners, environmental experts, attorneys, mining vendors and suppliers, energy producers and other related fields. WMC members advocating for the varied mineral and mining sectors are able to provide policymakers with first-hand information about the technological advancements and environmental stewardship of today’s mining industry.

Particularly effective among policymakers is the fact that WMC members are not typical lobbyists; they are daughters, wives and mothers as well as highly qualified mining industry professionals.

Frank McAllister, NMHF&M board of directors’ chairman, commented, “The Women’s Mining Coalition embodies the spirit of the Prazen Living Legend of Mining Award through 24 years of ongoing mining advocacy and education activities.

Their membership has had a tremendous influence and impact on promoting all aspects of the mining industry and spreading the message, ‘Everything begins with mining. Everything!’ We are proud to recognize their efforts and bestow WMC with this prestigious award.”

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2BUG:

Stealing the meat from the tiger’s mouth

By Brian Dale Past The 2BUG (Stage 2B, underground) mine began development in June 2015.

This development consisted of accessing the remaining portions of the underground stages 1 and 2 and rehabbing the majority of the accessible workings. As well, two additional portals and a 295inch bored raise were established and adjoined to the old workings, providing ventilation and secondary escape.

Originally, the 2BUG was intended to supplement the ore supply from the Mineral Hill, North Area and South Area open pits. However, due to geotechnical constraints with the Mineral Hill open pit west highwall and declining precious metal prices, surface mining operations were halted in November of 2015. This left the underground as a standalone operation with the objective to recover the highergrade portions of the Mineral Hill breccia left behind by the idled pit. By the beginning of Q1 of 2016, the development and rehab had progressed to the point that we were able to mine our first stope.

Present The E Stope was mined between January and March of 2016. This, and the three subsequent stopes, are located within a 150-foot step-out, which was left in the west highwall to shore up the open pit wall stability. The challenge was and continues to be that these stopes are also located in the hanging wall of a microregional fault we call the West Shear. The West Shear is the structure that enables the instability of the west wall, and is what the 150-foot step-out was designed to support. To put it in perspective, the average rate of the west highwall downward movement into the Mineral Hill pit is about half of an inch per day, or 15 inches per month.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Movement of the pit highwall along the West Shear (“the Tiger”) has presented particular complications for ore development accesses and production drilling in these stopes. Despite these challenges, we have been able to recover over 330,000 tons of ore (“the Meat”) from the hanging wall of the West Shear without a safety incident related to the geotechnical issues. This great achievement can be attributed the diligence of the on-site geotechnical engineer, vigilance of the miners and strict adherence by everyone working in and around the underground to the safety protocols that have been developed.

Future As our mining moves out of the hanging wall and into the footwall of the West Shear and access is gained to the deepest parts of the old workings, we are carrying out an exploration program to prove some deeper resources within the Mineral Hill breccia. Underground exploration targets have also been identified along a mineralized zone known as the Lone Eagle trend in the north wall of the pit, and in the South Area. A particular point of interest is that the zones identified in the South Area are essentially a down-dip extension of the veins that were mined in the early 1900s and ultimately led to the discovery of the Mineral Hill breccia.

The Golden Sunlight has persevered for nearly 35 years, and with the vision and dedication of the management, technical staff and talented operators on the site – and a little bit of luck – we will be able to endure a few more.

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Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

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Montana Resources invests in the future Safety 2016 was another great year and strong safety performance for Montana Resources (MR). On July 8, the employees reached seven years without a lost time accident.

That equates to 5.3 million hours worked without an employee missing a shift of work due to a work-related injury.

The last three years have resulted in a total incident rate of about half of the industry average. MR is proud of its safety accomplishments, but never satisfied. Every day is a new safety challenge, and we aim to continue to improve.

Production The copper market saw prices fall below $2.00 per pound and molybdenum

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fall into the $4.00 per pound price. For the majority of the year, copper ranged from $2.00 to $2.25; however, the price took a substantial rise in November and has been staying north of $2.50 while molybdenum has been above $6.00 at the end of the year.

MR will produce approximately 69,000,000 pounds of copper, 9,500,000 pounds of molybdenum and 600,000 ounces of silver in 2016.

MR continues to mine the D-East pushback, mining about 3,000,000 tons off the pushback in 2016. The D-East pushback expands the east side of the continental pit, expanding our mine life which is currently at 38 years. We are still several years

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

away from accessing ore from the efforts of the pushback.

The haulage fleet was upgraded in the spring by replacing four of our trucks with 240-ton Cat 793F.

Tailings Impoundment Permitting MR is preparing a permit application which will provide for tailings storage through 2040. This permit will be one of the first major tailings storage facility expansions to be processed using the new tailings impoundment regulations passed in the 2015 Legislature. The independent review panel has been selected and approved, and it includes Dr. Dirk Van Zyl, James Swaisgood and Dr. Leslie Smith.

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Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

53

MMA recognizes outstanding

safety performance The purpose of the Montana Mining Association (MMA) Mine Safety Award Program is to recognize outstanding safety performances, stimulate the establishment of programs for reduction of accidents and to promote public awareness of the safety efforts of the mining industry.

Awards are based on the previous calendar year safety records and are presented to the mining operations in Montana (surface and underground) having the lowest incident rates.

Records for award applications must be kept in accordance with the reporting requirements set forth by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for all mining operations.

MMA annually recognizes outstanding safety in three categories: Safe Work Practices, Sustaining Safety Performance and Contractor Sustaining Safety Performance.

• Safe Work Practices Awards – The winners in this category have the lowest MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate based on the injury incident rates published by MSHA. To be eligible for an award, the applicant’s Frequency Rate must be lower than the MSHA national average for that section of the industry.

• Sustaining Safety Performance Awards – This award acknowledges those operators with consecutive, sustained safety performances and is based on the number of hours without a “lost time” incident.

• Contractor Sustaining Safety Performance Awards – This award acknowledges those contractors, valued members of the mining team at MMA member operations, who achieve sustained safety performances. The contractors are nominated by mine operators and the awards are based on consecutive, sustained safety performances and is based on the number of hours without a “lost time” incident.

Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018 54 Montana

2015 Outstanding Safety Achievements Figures from MSHA show that that in 2015 coal mines and metal/non-metal mines combined recorded the fewest fatalities in the history of American mining.

MMA producers are achieving impressive safety records that contributed to the 2015 national record-setting results. Our producers are accomplishing remarkable safety records by assuring that there is a visible leadership commitment to health and safety at all levels of their operations, by having a top-to-bottom safety culture which defines, amongst competing priorities, that safety comes in first every time, and by visible evidence of a financial and personal investment in health and safety.

MMA acknowledges the progress made from the unwavering commitment made by Montana mining operations to seeing our miners return home safe and sound each and every day.

Awards were presented in May 2016 for outstanding performance achieved in 2015.

Jared Senn, Graymont

Graymont Western US – Indian Creek Graymont Western US received both the Safe Work Practices Award for having a “zero” MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate for 2015 and the Sustaining Safety Performance Award for achieving four years and 317,185 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Imerys Talc – Yellowstone Mine Imerys Talc received both the Safe Work Practices Award for having a “zero” MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate for 2015 and the Sustaining Safety Performance Award for achieving 12 years and 791,000 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Travis Shepard, CRH – Trident

CRH – Trident CRH – Trident received both the Safe Work Practices Award for having a “zero” MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate for 2015 and the Sustaining Safety Performance Award for achieving four years and 647,000 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Helena Sand & Gravel – Portable Crusher Helena Sand & Gravel received both the Safe Work Practices Award for having a “zero” MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate for 2015 and the Sustaining Safety Performance Award for achieving 11 years and 87,709 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Matt Wolfe, Stillwater Mining Company

Stillwater Mining Company – East Boulder Mine Stillwater Mining Company received the Safe Work Practices Award for having a 2.52 MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate for 2015.

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Pete Steilman and Mike McGivern, Montana Resources

Montana Resources – Continental Mine Montana Resources received both the Safe Work Practices Award for having a 1.03 MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate for 2015 and the Sustaining Safety Performance Award for achieving 2,367 Days or 6.48 years and 5,047,832 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

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Contractor Safety Awards

2016 Safety Stats Break Record Again The United States mining industry reported its fewest fatalities and lowest injury rate in nearly four decades of records, federal regulators said.

2016 marked the safest year ever for American miners. Together, coal mines and metal/non-metal mines last year recorded the lowest fatality and injury rates in the history of U.S. mining – a sign of continuous improvement for an industry that saw a record low the previous year.

The Assistant Secretary of Labor, Joseph Main, credited the MSHA and the mining community as a whole for the decrease in fatalities, yet also cautioned the mining industry to continue its focus on safety. “We are calling on all of our stakeholders, including mine operators, miners’ organizations, associations and trainers, to increase their attention to the conditions and hazards that are leading to fatalities,” stated Main. “Eliminating mining deaths and reducing injuries and illnesses is a goal that must be shared by all of us. We can – and must – strive to reach zero mining deaths.”

The Montana Mining Association Health and Safety Committee, guided by its impressive Code of Ethics, agrees that the focus must remain on safety, no matter how great the recorded gains. In May of 2017, the MMA awarded several member producers and contractors with awards for impressive safety accomplishments achieved in 2016.

Graymont Western US – Indian Creek

Don Staley, Buckley Powder Company

Buckley Powder Company Buckley Powder Company, nominated by Montana Resources, received the Contractor Sustaining Safety Performance Award for achieving six years and 43,056 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Buckley Powder Company, nominated by Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine, received the Contractor Sustaining Safety Performance Award for achieving 12 years and 180,774 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Smith & Sons Construction Smith & Sons Construction, nominated by Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine, received the Contractor Sustaining Safety Performance Award for achieving 14 years and 366,234 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Appreciation Award Kelly Stolp received a well-deserved award in appreciation of his many years of dedication to the MMA with unwavering focus on sending our miners home safe and healthy every day.

Congratulations, Kelly!

Graymont Western US received the Safe Work Practices Award for having a 2.21 MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate for 2016.

Imerys Talc – Yellowstone Mine Imerys Talc received both the Safe Work Practices Award for having a “zero” MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate for 2016 and the Sustaining Safety Performance Award for achieving 13 years and 854,000 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Montana Resources – Continental Mine Montana Resources received both the Safe Work Practices Award for having a 1.07 MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate for 2016 and the Sustaining Safety Performance Award for achieving 2,733 days or 7.49 years, 5,793,454 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Stillwater Mining Company – East Boulder Mine Stillwater Mining Company received the Safe Work Practices Award for having a 2.61 MSHA Reportable Frequency Rate for 2016.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Contractor Safety Awards Buckley Powder Company Buckley Powder Company, nominated by Montana Resources, was awarded a Contractor Sustaining Performance Award for achieving seven years and 50,736 hours worked with no lost time incident.

J.S. Redpath J.S. Redpath, nominated by Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine, was awarded a Contractor Sustaining Performance Award for achieving two years and 220,478 hours worked with no lost time incident.

Left to right: Chuck Buus, Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine; Dave Raich, J.S. Redpath; Don Staley, Buckley Powder Company; Matt Wolfe, Stillwater Mining Company; Travis Chiotti, Montana Resources; and Nick Brundin, Imerys Talc.

Smith & Sons Construction Smith & Sons Construction, nominated by Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine, was awarded a Contractor Sustaining Performance Award for achieving 15 years and 382,301 hours worked with no lost time incident.

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MONTANA MINING ASSOCIATION – HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE CODE OF ETHICS CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

As a member of the Montana Mining Association (MMA) Health and Safety Committee, I recognize my work has an impact on the protection of people, property and the environment.

THEREFORE, I shall uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the mine health, safety, and environmental profession by: • Enhancing protection of people, property and the environment through leadership and understanding; • Providing honest, impartial service to the public, employers, employees and clients; • Endeavoring to improve my competence and the competence of the mine safety profession; and • Never compromising my profession or what it stands for and always practicing the highest degree of professional conduct.

I shall hold paramount the protection of people, property and the environment; I shall treat others with respect, civility, and without discrimination throughout all professional relationships; I shall advise employers, clients, employees or appropriate authorities should, through my professional judgment, I believe that people, property, or the environment may be at risk; I shall endeavor to continually improve my abilities as a safety professional; I shall strive to understand and abide by all applicable laws, rules and regulations; I shall only perform professional services that I am competent to perform; I shall only issue public statements in an objective and truthful manner in accordance with the authority bestowed upon me; I shall act professionally and with integrity in all matters and avoid conflicts of interest; I shall build my professional reputation on the merits of my service; and I shall seek opportunities to be of constructive service to the MMA Health and Safety Committee and work for the advancement of the health and safety for mines and miners in Montana.

Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

57

CRH – Trident Cement Plant:

Sustainable neighbor of the Gallatin Valley The Trident Cement Plant, located on the banks of the Missouri River, which has been operating for more than a century, is a longstanding member of the community and remains a key economic contributor in the area. Employees have an unwavering commitment to meeting customers’ needs, contributing to local communities and maintaining the plant’s record as a safe workplace.

The Trident Cement Plant became part of CRH in 2015. CRH is a global diversified building materials group and, in North America, one of the largest in this class.

CRH has placed sustainability and social responsibility at the heart of its business model, strategy and activities worldwide.

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PIPE • FITTINGS • VALVES • PUMPS 58

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Since its first cement shipment 107 years ago, the Trident Cement Plant continues this focus by engaging its employees and the local community to work together to build the foundations for a sustainable future.

In the spirit of sustainability, among the Plant’s top priorities is the stewardship of the environment. Compliance with all environmental rules and regulations is its license to operate. Simply stated: without environmental compliance, Trident does not operate. With the advent of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new rules in 2015 related to emission limits at all cement operations in the United States, and a view towards its long-term environmental performance, the Plant undertook a threeyear $11-million project of technological advancement of its processes, machinery and systems. As a result, the Plant realized a significant decrease in its emissions, and assured environmental compliance (while decreasing emissions with no increase to production) to sustain Trident’s operations for many more years to come.

Another top priority at Trident is its involvement as a community partner.

Whether through volunteerism, monetary donations and/or a combination of both, the Plant contributes to various projects to help build a sense of community and make the Gallatin Valley a healthier, safer and a more desirable place to live, work and play.

A sampling of the community activities that the Plant supports include Eagle Mount’s Digger Days, Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake, Red Cross blood drives hosted at the Plant’s office, scholarships gifted to graduates at six local high schools, Bozeman Health Foundation’s Hospitality, Museum of the Rockies traveling exhibit sponsorships and Audubon’s Wings Across Montana.

In 2016, the Trident/Peregrine Trail was constructed after years of planning with Audubon, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department, Headwaters Trail System and Montana State University. Trail construction in Missouri Headwaters State Park was completed through in-kind donations of labor and equipment from Trident. Other community partnering initiatives include the Trident Community Advisory Committee, open houses, tours and membership/

partnering with business associations and Chambers of Commerce.

CRH’s philosophy of creating value from sustainability includes organizational longevity. Being both commercially and socially sustainable, finding new sources of competitive advantage and attracting the best talent ensures that the business can thrive for the long term. Trident will continue to support sustainable neighbor relations that are cemented in our foundation, as we prepare for the next 100 years of operations.

New Company.

New Look.

Same Great People.

Same Great Products.

Trident Plant

Continued Focus On Sustainability

In 2015, the Trident Cement Plant was proud to officially become part of the CRH family.

We are your local leader, and part of a growing global building materials company with a proud and successful history. As CRH, we will continue to deliver products and services, contribute to the local economy and our communities, with the same integrity and reliability that we have built our reputation on for 107 years!

Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

59

Western Montana Exploration and Mining Association

By Ted Antonioli

Harriet, the beautiful granddaughter of Ted Antonioli, by the hoist.

WMEMA also toured the Garrison phosphate deposit with the former mine manager, Marty Dippold, during the summer. It was an excellent and informative day!

Members of the Western Montana Exploration and Mining Association made progress on an exhibit of mining equipment at Fort Missoula, an idea conceived by Bruce Cox and brought to being with the assistance of Larry Johnson and Tim Zeiser. The equipment and sapphire panning were WMEMA's contribution to Fourth of July celebrations at the Fort, with additional help from Doug Parker and Sam Tintinger. The exhibit now has a hoist, crusher, arrester and tram bucket. Here are photographs of the Garrison tour and the hoist on display at Fort Missoula.

Montana Tech Foundation The Montana Tech Foundation would like to send sincere thanks to all our friends, alumni and supporters.

Because of you, in 2016 the Montana Tech Foundation was able to provide $1,538,636 in scholarships and awards to recipients, $574,091 in departmental essentials, $415,052 in professorships and $2,496,379 for facilities and equipment that advance Montana Tech.

You are part of the solution here at Montana Tech.

Thank you for your generosity and support.

We look forward to moving Montana Tech forward in 2017-2018.

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Montana Tech Mining Engineering department It is my pleasure announce there are no faculty openings for the 2016/2017 academic year in Mining Engineering. This adds a large degree of stability to the department and students while allowing the faculty to focus on teaching, service and research and not beating the bushes for replacement faculty. This fall, we had our ABET visit for accreditation and, with a little followup work, we are maintaining our accreditation.

We graduated 15 bachelors’ and four masters’ degree recipients in 2015/2016 and can, again, report 100 percent job placement for all of our students. This is a record and an achievement we are very proud of given the downturn in the mining industry. Enrollment for this year is 47 undergraduate (50 last year) and seven graduate students (six last year) so we are holding fairly steady. Remember that we have a common freshman engineering program so these numbers do not include the freshmen that we fervently try to recruit. So far, seven internships have been reported for 2017, and two of our 18 graduates have permanent employment lined up.

Thirty students attended the annual Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Plans are underway to attend the annual SME conference in 2017 in Denver which is logistically easier as we rent SUVs and can afford to take more students with us.

Our third “What a Blast!: Recruiting Future Mining Engineers” camp for high school students was held in 2016 and two of those attending the camp have been accepted at Montana Tech

for admission in the fall of 2017. Dates for the next camp are June 17-22, 2018 so if you know of any high school students that want to attend an exciting, hands-on, fun-filled camp please check our website (http://www.mtech.edu/academics/mines/mining/summer-camp/). A perennial favorite of the attendees is the day spent underground drilling, blasting and running the muckers. Other activities include visiting local open pit, underground and placer mines plus time in a training simulator operating haul trucks or a dragline.

Mining competition Montana Tech hosted the 38th annual Intercollegiate Mining Competition in Butte from March 30 to April 2. This year, the men’s copper team took third overall with a first-place finish in track stand, second in Swede saw, third in jackleg and fourth in hand steel. The men’s green team placed sixth overall with a thirdplace finish in gold pan, fourth place in Swede saw and sixth place in both mucking and jackleg. The co-ed copper team took fourth overall with first places in jackleg and Swede saw, fourth in survey and fifth in hand steel. The co-ed green team took fifth overall, second in survey, third in mucking, gold pan and track stand and fourth in jackleg. The teams are practicing in preparation for traveling to Lexington, Kentucky for the 2017 competition. Thank you to all who came out to see the competition and support our mining team!

UMEC update Montana Tech is the only mining engineering program in the United States

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with an on-campus underground mine, referred to as the Underground Mine Education Center (UMEC). The mine is a decline access that has intersected historic workings of the Orphan Boy Mine. A practical underground mining class is offered each semester where students work hands-on for four hours once a week drilling with jackleg drills for face rounds and to set rock bolts, charging and blasting rounds, mucking out the round and setting ground support. Services are also run by the students. For example, this past semester, our main compressed air line was upgraded to three-inch HDPE. The exciting news for the UMEC is the donation of a mucker from Stillwater Mining, thanks to Jason Palin, mine manager.

Proudly Serving Montana’s Mining Industry for Over Thirty Years • Legislative Affairs – Lobbying & Public Relations • Regulatory Compliance & Contested Cases • Environmental Permitting & Compliance • Civil Litigation – Commercial, Royalty, & Environmental Matters • OSHA/MSHA Litigation • Commercial Transactions • Land & Lease Acquisition • Tax Matters – Income, Property, & Severance Taxes For additional information contact: HELENA | 800 N. Last Chance Gulch Suite 101 Helena, MT 59601 | P: (406) 443-6820 MISSOULA | 201 West Railroad St., Suite 300, Missoula, MT 59802 | P: (406) 728-1694 GREAT FALLS | Liberty Center, Suite 302 9 3rd St. North, Great Falls, MT 59401 P: (406) 403-0041 BOZEMAN | 801 W. Main St. Suite 2A Bozeman, MT 59715 | P: (406) 585-0888

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MMA scholarships lessen financial burden The Montana Mining Association is honored to provide scholarships to students interested in mining so they may receive a top-tier education from Montana Tech, the state’s premier mining university with a focus on hard science studies and in-depth scientific research.

Montana Mining Association’s executive director Tammy Johnson says, “Members of the Association are always very enthusiastic about our scholarship awards. Not only is the MMA assisting with the cost of education but MMA members are also enthusiastic about turning out students who are ready to go to work, with the skills and education necessary to step into one of our mining operations.”

Congratulations and best wishes to each of the MMA scholarship recipients as you continue your education and look forward to a bright future!

Don C. Lawson Memorial Scholarship Recipients – $1,000 Scholarships Awarded to Freshmen “It is quite an honor to be offered this scholarship award, let alone be considered for it,” says Johanna Stinson, a 2016-2017 recipient of a $1,000 scholarship. Stinson is from Belt and is pursuing a degree in mining engineering.

“Thank you for investing in my education and future. I am truly honored to be the Montana Mining Association’s Don C. Lawson Memorial Scholarship recipient,” says Riley McConnaha, a 2016-2017 recipient of a $1,000 scholarship. McConnaha is from Butte and is pursuing a degree in geological engineering.

“This scholarship has eased the financial burden placed upon me. Thanks to your help, I can focus more on my education. I am extremely grateful,” says Alekzander Wamsley, a 2017-2018 recipient of a $1,000 scholarship. Wamsley is from Wibaux and is pursuing a degree in mining engineering.

Hooray for the MMA Snowbird Open golfers!

One additional Don C. Lawson scholarship will be awarded for the 2017-2018 academic year. This award was made possible by a great turnout and high participation in the MMA Snowbird Open golf tournament in May. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this additional scholarship.

MMA golfers really know how to kick things into high gear when it comes to the MMA scholarship fund!

Don C. Lawson Memorial Scholarships The Don C. Lawson Memorial Scholarship for freshman students was established by the Montana Mining Association to honor Don C. Lawson (Oct. 9, 1925 – Dec. 21, 2001). Lawson, originally from Jardine, Mont., served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. He saw action within the South Pacific theatre of the Second World War, and while in Iwo Jima, witnessed the famous flag being raised in victory on Mount Suribachi.

Lawson wrote numerous mining publications, was editor of the annual Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) mining directory, taught mining courses and was an assayer, field geologist, geochemist, surveyor and advisor. He retired as a field agent for the MBMG. He was well-known and highly respected in the mining industry, and was often referred to as Montana’s “Mr. Mining”. Lawson was a champion of the Montana Mining Association, and his contributions to the Association in time and talent were remarkable.

Gary Langley Memorial Scholarships The Gary Langley Memorial Scholarship was established by the Montana Mining Association to honor Gary Langley (Oct. 29, 1946 – July 16, 2004). The scholarship fund was established to provide financial support for sophomore students seeking to find meaningful employment in the mining industry for generations to come.

Langley, who grew up in Livingston, Mont., pursued his career in journalism with enthusiasm. Langley took a reporting job with The Spokesman-Review before he was hired at the Missoulian as a government reporter. Langley was promoted to the Lee Newspapers State Bureau in Helena, and later was named bureau chief. Langley devoted much of his later career serving as the Montana Mining Association’s executive director from 1980 to 1996 as a passionate champion of mining.

A boxing enthusiast and former amateur boxer (with four wins and three losses), Langley certainly didn’t shy away from the tough issues, both as a reporter and as a mining advocate. He was well-known as a storyteller and for his great sense of humor.

“I want to thank you so much for this amazing scholarship.

This means so much to my family and me. I am honored to receive such an award. I won’t let it go to waste!” says Shauna Burgess, a 2017- 2018 recipient of a $1,000 scholarship. Burgess is from Plains and is pursuing a degree in mining engineering.

“As an environmental engineering major, I am interested in water quality and eventually researching new, more affordable methods of water treatment. Thanks to your gracious investment ton Cummings, a 2017-2018 recipient of a $2,000 scholarship.

“Thank you for awarding me the Gary Langley Memorial Scholarship. I would like to accept this scholarship and thank you again for choosing me,” says Bryan Claypool, a 2016-2017 recipient of a $2,000 scholarship. Claypool is from Miles City and is pursuing a degree in geological engineering.

“I am very appreciative to have been given a good scholarship. This scholarship will help me greatly and help me continue my education,” says Jacob Clarke, a 2016-2017 recipient

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a degree in geophysical engineering.

in my education, this goal is even more attainable,” says Ash-

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of a $2,000 scholarship. Clarke is from Billings and is pursuing

Cummings is from Great Falls and is pursuing a degree in environmental engineering.

“Thank you for awarding me the Montana Mining Association’s Gary Langley Memorial Scholarship. It is a tremendous help in paying for my education. I’m looking forward to pursuing my career,” says Ethan Blevins, a 2017-2018 recipient of a $2,000 scholarship. Blevins is from Ronan and is pursuing a career in metallurgical engineering.

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Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

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Eighth-grade essay contest The annual essay contest is a favorite undertaking of the Montana Mining Association education committee and the entries are looked forward to each year. In this edition of the Montana Mining magazine, we are featuring two years of winning essays due to a timing change in the contest.

Essays are scored by members of the MMA education committee and the top three essays yield monetary scholarships ($400 for first place, $250 for second place and $100 for third place), publication in the Montana Mining magazine and the top three students are invited to be our guests and to present before our members at the MMA’s annual meeting.

Scoring the essays is a large undertaking and the MMA is most fortunate to have many members who eagerly raise their hand to judge the great essays. Scores are awarded based on five rubric criteria and 20 percent of the score is based on each of the following: the students’ understanding of the topic; original thinking relative to the topic; effectiveness in presenting a point of view; the quality of detail; and style, grammar and spelling.

2015-2016 essay contest For the 2015-2016 school year, we had a spring contest. The timing of the 2015-

2016 contest was in response to some suggestions made by teachers from around the state. We mailed 310 packets of information to Montana’s public, private and home schools. The topic for the 20152016 school year contest was, “What is the single biggest safety, regulatory or environmental change that has positively affected mining, miners or mining communities since Montana became a state?”

Essay contest entries were received from: • Washington Middle School, Missoula • Frenchtown Junior High School • Brockton Middle School • Richey Public Schools • St. Regis Schools • Lewistown Jr. High School • Gallatin Gateway School • Billings Christian School • Rodriguez Homeschool, Billings • Missoula International School • Reed Point Schools Montana eighth graders had very diverse points of view on this topic. It just goes to show that the mining industry has made many great strides to make the industry safer than ever, and that being one of the most regulated industries that for modern mining, protection of the environment is paramount.

For example, winning essays from the 2016-1017 school year contest include the following excerpts: “…one of the greater advancements in mining safety: mandatory signage in mines. This regulation alone has improved mining safety in the last century to make emergency evacuations of mines much more efficient.”; “When the 1890s brought with them low-freezing dynamites, patented for the first time by F. Broberg, not many realized that this would bring about such a change for the better. This low-freezing dynamite, though seemingly a simple solution, saved countless lives in its making. Since then, there have been many advances in the pursuit of mining, but this is one of the most important.”; and “The establishment of the United States Bureau of Mines on May 16, 1910 has been the single most important safety and regulatory change that has positively affected miners and mining communities since Montana became a state. The United States Bureau of Mines improved safety in mines and lessened environmental impact in mines across the country, from 1910 to when it was dissolved in 1996.”

The MMA is pleased to announce the 2015-2016 school year essay contest winners: First place: Hans Skovlin, Washington Middle School, Missoula Second place: Will Erving, Missoula International School, Missoula Third place: Nichole Rodriguez, Rodriquez Home School, Billings Hans Skovlin and Nichole Rodriguez were able to join us at the 2016 MMA annual meeting, along with their proud families, at beautiful Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. The meeting attendees loved the presentations and kids did a great job.

It is so wonderful to meet these accomplished, poised and skilled young people.

2016-2017 essay contest The contest was moved back to the fall schedule this academic year and the MMA education committee agreed that this schedule works the best for most schools.

We sent out 307 packets to public schools,

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Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

First-place winner Hans Skovlin, eighthgrade student at Washington Middle School in Missoula.

Third-place winner Nichole Rodriguez, eighth-grade student at Rodriguez Home School in Billings.

private schools and home school organizations. Our great group of judges read through 620 pages of entries in search of the top three. The topic for the 2016-2017 school year contest was, “What is the role that mining plays in alternative energy technologies such as wind power, solar power, hydroelectric power or electric/hybrid automobiles?”

Essay contest entries were received from: • Libby Middle School • Medicine Lake School • Froid Public School • Twin Bridges Schools • Eureka Middle School • Richey Public School • Eileen Johnson Middle School, Lockwood • Broadview Public Schools • Lavina Public School • Fairview Public School • Plains Middle School • Centerville School, Sand Coulee • E.F. Duvall Junior High School, Deer Lodge

First-place winner Dylan Bartos and family, eighth-grade student from E. F. Duvall Junior High School in Deer Lodge.

Second-place winner Laurel Sponheim and family, eighth-grade student from Richey Public School in Richey.

• Belgrade Middle School • Reed Point Schools • West Yellowstone School • Terry Public Schools • Hellgate Middle School, Missoula • Rapelje High School • White Sulphur Springs Middle School • Billings Educational Academy • Lewistown Junior High School Mining is not optional. It is an important fundamental truth. Montana students who entered the contest, which is open to any Montana eighth grader in our public or private schools or who are homeschooled, get it.

For example, winning essays from the 2016-1017 school year contest include the following excerpts: “Although mining is taking non-renewable resources from the Earth, mining is what creates the alternative energy sources”; “In conclusion, mining is needed to create many alternative energy sources and is needed in our everyday lives in ways we often don’t think of.

Mining makes it possible to produce solar

Third-place winner Daniel Thackeray, eighth-grade student from Lewistown Junior High in Lewistown.

power, hydroelectric power, wind power and to produce hybrid automobiles”; and “The fact is, if you are interested in alternative energy then you need to get your materials from mining.”

The MMA is pleased to announce the 2016-2017 school year essay contest winners: First place: Dylan Bartos, E. F. Duvall Junior High School, Deer Lodge Second place: Laurel Sponheim, Richey Public Schools, Richey Third place: Daniel Thackeray, Lewistown Junior High, Lewistown Dylan Bartos and Laurel Sponheim were able to join us at the 2017 MMA annual meeting, along with their proud families, at beautiful Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. As always, the student’s presentations were a high point of the meeting.

The meeting attendees loved the presentations and the kids are just awesome. If the students enjoyed the opportunity half as much as our MMA members did, they had a good time.

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Essay contest

The Butte mining disaster and its effect on mining safety

By Hans Skovlin, Washington Middle School, Missoula On June 8, 1917, a brand new cable that was being lowered into Butte’s Granite Mountain shaft broke free. The three-ton cable fell, bouncing and grating against the wall of the shaft. The cable crew only just managed to get clear, huddling in the 2,600-foot station as the massive lead-sheathed wire dropped past. When the dust cleared, the men inspected the snarled heap at the foot of the shaft. In little mood to begin removing the ruined cable, the men headed home. They had worked for nearly 18

hours, and all for naught. The cable was terribly damaged. It had a copper conductor in the center, and was protected by a layer of oil-soaked jute or hemp fiber, which in turn was capped by a lead sheathing. The fall had scraped off over half of the lead, exposing the fibers and wire. The men of the crew dreaded their fate after playing a role in damaging a $5,000 piece of company property. Little did they know that they had set off a chain of events that in time would leave 163 men dead.

The men reported the cables loss to assistant foreman Ernest Sullau. The responsibility of removing the cable would fall to him. Sullau rode the auxiliary cage down to the 2,400-foot station, which the cable lay 50 feet below, and climbed out to inspect the cable. There, he and a shift boss named John “Baldy” Collins crawled along the timbers of the shaft, a 1,300foot drop beneath them to the bottom at 3,740 feet. On him, Sullau wore a carbide lamp. So as he probed the frayed cable, Sullau kept an open flame on his head to

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Essay contest light his way. As he probed through the darkness, his light touched the oil soaked insulation. He jerked back and ignited more flammable fibers. He yelled to Collins to help, and they attempted to stomp the fire down. It seemed to work – until fire broke out on the other side of the behemoth cable. The two men climbed up towards the cage, and made it to the 2,400-foot station, where they called for water. It was too late. The fire had begun catching on the timbers on the sides of the shaft. Flames raced upwards, defying the prominent downdraft of the Granite Mountain Mine, which normally brought fresh air down into the mine. The updraft only made the flames reach higher, and the fire was now roaring upwards. Sullau began running and shouting to get the men out of the mine. He knew that miners were also at work in the adjoining Speculator mine, and that they needed to be warned. Whatever thoughts crossed

through his mind that night, Sullau did not hurry to escape. He ran for others, hoping to save the men toiling in the depths of the Granite Mountain and Speculator mines. Though his efforts would save many, he and 162 other men would pay the ultimate price for their work.

Through this tragedy came one of the greater advancements in mining safety: mandatory signage in mines. For as many men groped through gas and smoke in the deep shafts of the Granite Mountain and Speculator mines, there were few or no signs to guide them to the surface or to the safety of adjoining tunnels. After changes introduced in the decades following the disaster, all mines require signs to guide miners to lift stations, water hydrants, tool caches and neighboring mine systems. This ensures that if a fire were to break out, men in the mine could more easily find their way to safer locations. The tragedy of the North Butte

fire of 1917 caused mining companies to place more emphasis on the safety of miners. Improvements were also made to the mine systems to better working conditions, and strikes by miners unions hastened the process. In Butte at the turn of the century, most mines had no signs to guide men from lift station to station, and many workers new to the job were sent down with only a vague sense of where to go. Now, according to the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States, all signs must be maintained and kept up to date, be easy to see and read and be made of durable materials. Safety signs concerning the risks of an area and the mine in general are also to be posted and maintained. This regulation alone has improved mining safety in the last century to make emergency evacuations of mines much more efficient. Mandatory signage is the greatest safety advancement in Montana mining history.

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Essay contest

The United States Bureau of Mines’ positive impact on mining

By Will Erving, Missoula International School The establishment of the United States Bureau of Mines on May 16, 1910 has been the single most important safety and regulatory change that has positively affected miners and mining communities since Montana became a state.

The United States Bureau of Mines improved safety in mines and lessened environmental impact in mines across the country from 1910 to when it was dissolved in 1996. Many factors have contributed to safer, healthier and more environmentally friendly mining since Montana became a state, but I believe that the most influential contribution to the improvement of so many aspects of mining was the establishment of the United States Bureau of Mines. Additionally, the United States Bureau of Mines confidently led the way in terms of regulatory advancements and promoting safety and health in the mining industry. Technological advancements such as self-rescue equipment have greatly reduced the number of mining fatalities in the United States by enabling miners to survive until rescued in the event of a mining disaster. Today, mining is rela-

tively safe, and well-paying jobs enable people to live better lives around the world. Unfortunately, mining has not always been as safe and relatively clean as the sophisticated mining of today.

In 1907, there were approximately 3,000 fatalities that occurred from mining accidents and disasters in the United States. This number does not even include the miners who died from common mine-related illnesses and diseases like "black lung," which is caused by inhaling fine coal dust, or cancers that result from exposure to toxic chemicals like cyanide, which is used in the process of separating gold and silver particles from their ores. In the early 20th century, mining regulations in the United States were not very prominent and mining disasters were common.

Many times miners lived in poverty and struggled to earn a living and to support their families and loved ones.

The United States Bureau of Mines was founded in 1910. Since that time, the number of annual mining disaster fatalities has decreased by 97 percent since 1907, with only 98 fatalities oc-

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Mine Permitting Reclamation Plans Baseline Investigations Operating Plans Acid Drainage Control Stormwater and Sediment Control Abandoned Mine Reclamation Water Supply Development Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Property Audits Wetland Delineation

curring from mining accidents in 1993.

This incredible feat was possible in large part because of the crucial advancements that the United States Bureau of Mines brought to the mining world. Increasingly useful and innovative safety technology has been a large part of the dramatic advances in mine safety during the last century.

In 1969, the United States Bureau of Mines implemented the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. "The Coal Act included surface as well as underground coal mines within its scope, required two annual inspections of every surface coal mine and four at every underground coal mine, and dramatically increased federal enforcement powers in coal mines." The coal mine inspections effectively reduced the occurrence of undetected mistakes that could result in catastrophic mining disasters. This new law also enforced monetary penalties for known or purposeful violations of mining laws and regulations. This act that the United States Bureau of Mines helped to establish in the federal government also had new, more strict safety and health regulations. I believe that these new laws and improvements were incentives for many mining companies across the nation to create a safer working environment. For many unfortunate miners, health issues were already affecting them and a higher standard of health procedures would not be directly beneficial to their well-being. The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act's solution to this pressing problem was to provide compensation to miners disabled by prolonged inhalation of fine

Essay contest coal dust or "black lung". This compensation system helped many miners live better lives as a result of receiving compensation money.

Throughout the 85 years that the United States Bureau of Mines was active, the Bureau also made many new environmental advancements. During the mid- to late 20th century, the United States Bureau of Mines was focusing energy and funds on reducing the national environmental impact of mining. One very important method that the United States Bureau of Mines developed and started implementing nationwide was the creation of man-made wetland areas around acid mine drainage areas.

This technique helps to absorb toxins and acid wastes in a large spread-out area full of absorbent organic matter.

This wetland cleanup design reduces the amount of acids and heavy metals that reach the aquifer. In this way these wetland systems helped lessen the impact of acid mineral processing on our ecosystem. Another fascinating and effective technique developed in part by the United States Bureau of Mines is the use of certain strains of bacteria to remove arsenic and cyanide from bodies of waste water. This revolutionary method can help clean toxins from mining waste water. In these ways, the United States Bureau of Mines has contributed to environmental protection efforts throughout the mining industry.

In 1919, inspired in part by the United States Bureau of Mines' efforts to improve safety, lessen environmental impact, and progress in the conservation of mineral resources, the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology was founded. The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology states, "The MBMG is increasingly involved in studies of the environmental impacts to land and water caused either by past practices in hardrock mining or by current activities in agriculture and industry." The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology strives to

benefit miners and mining as well as educate people about energy and mining.

The United States Bureau of Mines has impacted many similar organizations across the country.

I believe that the United States Bureau of Mines has left behind a large legacy in the national mining community. I recognize the importance of safety, health,

and environmental protection in mining today. The United States Bureau of Mines facilitated advancements in these aspects of mining. I believe that because of this, the United States Bureau of Mines and its contributions to safety, regulatory, and environmental issues, has had the single largest positive impact on mining and miners since Montana became a state.

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Essay contest

Low-freezing dynamite saves countless lives

By Nichole A. Rodriguez, Rodriguez Homeschool, Billings The Montana gross state product is composed of eight percent mining. The first towns on this land were settled by gold miners, and mining was the reason they grew. It has such abundance of materials, including coal, petroleum, copper, lead, zinc, gems, gold, silver and so much more! Its state motto means "gold and silver." It is even called the Treasure State. These tantalizing hints show us just how important mining is to us as Montanans. Yet sometimes we take this

amazing gift for granted, and we disregard the many lives that have been lost in the pursuit of these absolutely essential materials.

In the darkness of the mine, there is a stillness and an expectancy. When the warning cry goes up, everyone waits a few suspenseful seconds to see if there will be an actual explosion. Mining is not an endeavor for the fainthearted.

Each day, these courageous men and women are placing their lives in peril,

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knowing that the merest slip could cost them everything. Because mining involves dynamite, there is always a risk that it could explode. Every day of work brings similar questions: "Will it backfire? Or will it do the miners' bidding?"

In the early 1800s, there was an even greater risk each time dynamite exploded. Some miners, called "nitros", mixed their own makeshift explosives out of a combination of nitric acid and glycerin called "nitroglycerine�. This had been introduced previously by Alfred Nobel, who went about the process far more carefully than the nitro shooters! He changed the substance from a highly dangerous and unpredictable liquid into the first dynamite, which was easier to control. However, it too had its drawbacks. Nitroglycerine dynamite, like all explosives, was extremely dangerous when handled improperly. Of course, it was effective and useful when handled correctly and made properly, but in the wrong hands, it was deadly.

One of the most popular mistakes was trying to thaw frozen dynamite without the thawing kettles required by law. In the late 1800s, a miner tried to thaw frozen dynamite beside his stove and left it there. Coming home from work, he was told that the stove had exploded and killed his family. Explosions of that sort were quite common, except most times the miners who had made the mistakes were present for the explosion. They set the explosive by or on the stove, over a candle or in boiling water, none of which was legal! We, as humans, tend to break the rules rather more than we

Essay contest should, but in this case, the consequence was not the loss of a job or freedom. It was the loss of a life! Or, as in the case of that Pennsylvania miner, the loss of his dearest ones' lives.

When the 1890s brought with them low-freezing dynamites, patented for the first time by F. Broberg, not many realized that this would bring about such a change for the better. If the dynamite was not frozen in the first place, there would naturally be no explosions in thawing it.

This was the biggest factor in the safety of miners then and has prevented many other accidents since its invention. First and foremost, there was no temptation to save money and thaw it on their own!

There were many tragedies as the result of mishandling dynamite. This low-

freezing dynamite, though seemingly a simple solution, saved countless lives in its making. Since then, there have been many advances in the pursuit of mining, but this is one of the most important.

Our government today wants to disregard all the effort and lives lost in the pursuit of mining, especially coal. But it is not for nothing that mining is romanticized! Many songs and poems have been created by a coal-fueled fire. We may burn coal and take it for granted, with little thought of the courage of the miners, but coal is more important than the government would like to think. If, as they would like to do, they shut down our mines, then much will be lost, not the least of which are many jobs and fuel for those who burn coal, not just

in homes, but also in businesses. We are Montanans, and when have Montanans given up willingly? Never! We have persevered through extraordinary things since our founding in 1889. As K. Ross Toole said in Montana: An Uncommon Land, "There is little or nothing moderate about the story of Montana. It has ricocheted violently down the corridor of possibilities." When we are for something, we stand by it forever and always. In 1893, when Congress tried to shut down silver mines, Montanans joined the Populists in the fight to bring them back. This is what we need to do in 2016 because, in the long run, we are our own people, demonstrating the freedoms we have as Americans. This we stand by. Thank you.

Providing Professional Civil, Mining, & Environmental Services in the Rocky Mountain Region Since 1980 Helena, Montana Billings, Montana 1275 Maple Street, Suite F 51 N. 15th Street, Suite 1 Billings, MT 59101 Helena, MT 59601 406.443.3962 406.894.2210 www.wwcengineering.com Laramie, Wyoming 307.742.0031

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Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

71

Essay contest

If it can’t be farmed, it must be mined

By Dylan Bartos, E.F. Duvall Junior High School, Deer Lodge Mining helps create many needed goods

used. A wind turbine is made up of a tower

and services. As I will soon tell you, we

and foundation, rotor and rotor blades, a

need mining to maintain our current qual-

nacelle with a drive train, electronic equip-

ity of life. Mining is needed in all kinds of

ment and other components (German

production. Without mining, we wouldn’t

Wind Energy Association). Mining is need-

have cars to drive, lights in our homes,

ed in wind power because without mining,

doorknobs on our doors or phones in our

we can’t make any of the components that

hands.

make up wind turbines. Copper, nickel,

Mining is vital to wind power. Many

steel, and fiberglass are only a few of the

people feel that wind power is environ-

many materials needed to make turbines.

mentally superior to other power sources.

If we did not mine, we simply could not

To produce wind power a wind turbine is

make wind power.

We are Browz Compliant (MSHA ID #A801)

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www.bbgcontractors.com 72

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Solar power is another environmentally friendly source of power. Solar power consists of solar panels to produce the electricity and batteries to store the electricity.

The main element needed for solar panels is silicon. To obtain silicon, you need to mine it as sand or vein deposits. The components of batteries include lead, acid and plastics, all of which are acquired through mining. Technically, we can live without solar power but it is definitely beneficial in our society as an inexpensive, clean and renewable source of energy.

Hydroelectric power, or hydropower, is power that is produced by moving water.

Hydroelectric power is made in a hydroelectric plant. The parts of a hydroelectric plant include a dam, a reservoir, control gates, the penstock (long pipe that carries the water), water turbines and generators (Bright Hub Inc.). Mining is needed in hydropower because minerals such as copper, gold and iron are needed to make the dam, control gates, the penstock, turbines and generators. Basically, the only part of the hydroelectric plant that isn’t dependent on mining is the reservoir. Hydroelectricity, in my opinion, is a very useful source of energy. It is a clean form of energy production and it is renewable. Hydropower does not require special filtered water; it can easily take advantage of natural water such as rain, and runoff from melted snow.

A hybrid automobile uses two or more kinds of power. An example of a hybrid car is one that has an electric motor as well as a gasoline engine (VerticalScope Inc.). Manufacture of all hybrid vehicles requires mining to produce the components of the automobile. Some of the

Mont Mo Montana ntan anaa Perspective. Vision. Solutions materials necessary to make the components of the hybrid automobile are copper, nickel, plastic, steel and iron.

Many different types of mining are used to access these materials. Some of the different types of mining needed include strip mining, shaft mining, open pit mining and quarrying. Also needed for the gasoline engine is petroleum, which is obtained through a drill rig, which is another form of mining. Although hybrids don’t take as much gasoline, they still produce pollution because they require two engines. Many people feel that the lower level of pollution makes the hybrid a superior product.

In my opinion, mining is a necessity to preserve our way of life. Without mining, we cannot produce the electricity and materials that we have today. Petroleum is used to make thousands of items such as, makeup, clothing, paint and tires. Phosphate is a component in our clothing and is the primary element in fertilizer. Doorknobs and clocks require copper. Silicon, aluminum, copper, lead and gold are required in the production of computers, tablets, phones and calculators. Another important, positive impact mining has is the creation of many high-paying jobs.

Often, additional jobs are created as support services for mines, for example, hotels, restaurants and stores. In rural areas, mining jobs may be the only source of employment available and are, therefore, crucial for continued existence.

In conclusion, mining is needed to create many alternative energy sources and is needed in our everyday lives in ways we often don’t think of. Mining makes it possible to produce solar power, hydroelectric power, wind power and to produce hybrid automobiles.

As my stepdad once said, “What can’t be farmed, has to be mined!” This may sound a little silly, but it is very accurate.

We must mine many of the things we use on a daily basis and without mining; our lives would be very different than they are today.

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Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

73

Essay contest

The influence of mining

By Laurel Sponheim, Richey Public Schools When people think about alternative energy sources like wind power, solar power or even hydroelectric power, the first thought that probably goes through their head is about how clean and efficient they are, but do they know how they got to be that way, or what goes into making these types of alternative energy sources?

Well, believe it or not, mining is the base for creating these things, and people are trying to get rid of it.

The reason behind why people want to get rid of mining is reasonable in their eyes. They think that mining is extracting non-renewable resources from the Earth so we can power our homes and so we can get items that have mined materials

74

in them. They also think that mining is creating a very unhealthy environment, so they want to switch to alternative energy sources. Although mining is taking non-renewable resources from the Earth, mining is what creates the alternative energy sources.

Solar panels are a great way to use renewable energy from the sun, so you probably are wondering if solar panels are powered by the sun, what do they have to do with mining? Solar panels are created by quartz, which needs to be mined, otherwise solar panels would be non-existent. Another form of alternative energy is hydroelectricity, which is a form of electricity created by water

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

that goes through a turbine which then makes electricity, but do you know why mining is involved? There is a part in the turbine called the generator, and as you know, generators need power to work.

Some forms of the power being gasoline or diesel. Therefore, hydroelectricity needs mining to be possible because gasoline and diesel come from mined materials. According to howstuffworks. com, the same goes for wind turbines, which have giant rotor blades that are turned by the wind, which also turn the shaft. Then the wind is moved from the shaft to the generator, creating electricity, but what do you think they are made of?

Stainless steel, concrete, fiberglass, copper and cast iron all go into making these huge turbines, and a lot of those materials need to be mined. There is really no way to make alternative energy sources, or new technology without mining.

Another fad that is going around is hybrid cars. Hybrid cars get better gas mileage and they are more environmentally healthy. They also run on both gas and electricity. Gas, which comes from oil, comes from mining. Electricity comes from coal, oil, and even natural gas which are all mined, too. So, switching from vehicles that run only on gasoline or diesel to vehicles that run on both gas and electricity is a good switch to make, but even so, they still use more fossil fuels than you would think.

Now you know what the role of mining is in making alternative energy and hybrid cars possible, but do you know what it would be like if mining was no longer in the picture? For starters, all of the alternative energy sources that I mentioned would not and could not be created. There wouldn’t be any source of electricity if mining was no longer in

Essay contest business. For instance, oil and coal are the two most used forms of energy, and they both come from mining, so without them life would be totally different. According to linkedin.com, the main reason for mining is you. For instance, your phones, vehicles and home appliances need the minerals or electricity to work.

No matter how you get your electricity, it wouldn’t be possible without the help of mining.

One last reason that mining is important is that it has been a part of Montana for many years, providing a lot of people with a job. Mining takes quite a bit of skill. According to iminco.net, extracting the minerals, driving the machinery, engineering, electrical working and even managing the whole process are all just a part of the job of mining. There are many more jobs, but altogether they create one process called mining.

As you can now see, energy sources would not be possible without at least some sort of mining involved. If you get rid of mining, you are also getting rid of electricity at the same time. It is up to you to decide if mining should be continued or not. Our lives are affected by it in more ways than we can probably count.

Whether it be from watering cattle from a solar-powered well to powering an entire city with electricity, it all uses mining.

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Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

75

Essay contest

What is the role that mining plays in alternative energy technologies?

By Daniel Thackeray, Lewistown Junior High When most people think of mining they might associate it with pollution or global warming, but mining is actually extremely instrumental in the development of alternative energy technology.

You have to consider that for new technologies to be developed you need the materials to produce them, and many of those materials come from mining.

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Another factor in developing technologies of any type is funding, and mining produces billions of dollars per year. So how exactly does mining play into alternative energy?

Mining accounts for over $402 billion yearly, and I guarantee some of that money is going towards renewable energy.

Whether trying to develop new technol-

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

ogy or just trying to manufacture something already invented, the costs involved in producing alternative energy are immense. Since mining is a giant in the industries producing cash, it is crucial to alternative energy. Although just the money which is produced by mining is a major factor in alternative energy, there is much more to it than that.

When you need to build a windmill, you're going to need a lot of materials.

The same holds true for the manufacturing of an electric car, or a solar panel. Maybe the most common material used in any project involving electricity is copper wire, and we get it from mining for ore. If you want to make something, chances are that many of its components will come from the Earth, and how else do you extract those components than through mining them. The fact is, if you are interested in alternative energy then you need to get your materials from mining. Windmills are usually about 328 feet tall, and their towers are made of steel coated in a zinc alloy. The blades for windmills are sometimes made of aluminum. One of the only parts of a windmill not made of metal is the concrete base they stand on, and even concrete includes iron ore as one of its ingredients.

Solar panels are another thing that makes people think of alternative energy, and guess what? They use lots of metals and minerals as well, including bauxite, copper and lead. Many big companies which are trying to become

Essay contest more sustainable use solar power, and they need to get a lot of those minerals because of this. Companies like Tesla, General Motors and even Walmart depend on solar panels and on mining because of this.

There are very few materials which conduct electricity that can be obtained without mining them. And even the ones that can make this claim are either expensive or not very efficient conductors. There are many different energy alternatives to fossil fuels, but all of them still need to use some type of conductive material. If conductive materials like copper or gold could no longer be mined, alternative energy would either skyrocket in price, or plummet in efficiency and quality. Neither of the options is good, and mining is the most viable solution.

Even in the pursuit of cleaner energy, all companies need to be powered, and maybe the cheapest way to power a company is to use fossil fuels. Pretty much every single business in the world is powered by some type of fossil fuel at this moment. All fossil fuels are mined, which is means that this is yet another reason that mining helps to fuel the industry of producing alternative energy.

Last but not least, we come to electric cars. The electric car is what most people would think of as the epitome of "clean" energy, and even electric cars are produced using materials that were mined and powered using fossil fuels. Tesla, the most prominent manufacturer of electric cars at the moment, is working towards being powered only by solar panels, but it hasn't managed it yet. Many of the materials used to make

electric cars are mined, things like steel for the framework, lithium for the batteries, and aluminum for the chassis. So, electric cars are actually full of materials obtained through mining.

In conclusion, mining accounts for hundreds of billions of dollars of the world's economy each year, part of which goes towards alternative energy.

Many different producers and users of alternative energy, including windmills, solar panels and electric cars, are made using materials that had to be mined.

Any company which is trying to develop new alternative technologies must use fossil fuels to power their business. Mining is necessary for the development of alternative energy for many reasons, and it would be nearly impossible to create energy without mining.

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Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

77

The single most important component of the Montana Mining Association is our members Producer Members Ash Grove Cement Company Barretts Minerals, Inc. Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine CRH (US) – Trident Plant Graymont Western US – Indian Creek Plant Imerys Talc Montana Resources, Inc. Sibanye-Stillwater Garnet USA Small Producer Members Caboose Mining Company Contact Mining Company D&S Mining and Exploration Golden Rule Placer Mining, Inc. Granite Resource Company Groundhog Mining & Milling Company Intermountain Leasing, Inc. Legacy Mining, LLC Non-Producer Members Crevice Mining Group Hecla Mining Company – Montanore Hecla Mining Company – Rock Creek Tintina Montana, Inc. Sand and Gravel, Semi-Precious Stone, Decorative Rock Members Helena Sand & Gravel / Oldcastle Materials Thompson Falls Sand and Gravel Associate Members AFFCO All State Fire Equipment Amec Foster Wheeler Anvil International, LP Applied Industrial Technologies Arcadis BBG Contractors Becker Wholesale Mine Supply, LLC Bison Engineering, Inc. Brenntag Pacific, Inc. Buckley Powder Co. CDM Smith Chemical Montana Company

78

Childs Geoscience, Inc. Continental Supply, Inc. Coppermine Fire Suppression Systems, LLC Cross Petroleum Service Crowley, Fleck, PLLP Cumberland Surety, Inc. Dakota Supply Group Dick Irvin, Inc. Energy Laboratories, Inc. Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Environomics, Inc. Express Employment Professionals F & H Mine Supply, Inc. Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Fickler Oil Company, Inc. Flow Tech Fueling LLC GCR Tires & Service GPM, Inc. H&E Equipment Services, Inc. HD Supply Waterworks Holland & Hart LLP Hydrometrics, Inc. International Directional Services (IDS) Industrial Automation Consulting, Inc. Industrial Sales & Service, Inc. Interstate Power Systems K&N Electric Motors, Inc. Knight Piésold Ltd. Komatsu Mining Corporation L&H Industrial Metso Modern Machinery Montana Hydraulics, LLC / Felco Industries, LLC Moore Oil, Inc. Morrison-Maierle, Inc. Nalco Company Newfields Mining and Energy Services Noble Excavating, Inc. Northside Welding & Fabrication, Inc. Northwest Mine Supply Northwest Parts & Equipment Northwest Pipe Fittings, Inc. NorthWestern Energy O'Keefe Drilling Company Orica Mountain West Pacific Inter-Mountain Distribution Pacific Steel & Recycling Payne Machinery, Inc.

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

Philips & Jordan, Inc. Pioneer Technical Services, Inc. Rain for Rent RDO Equipment Company Resource Management Associates, Inc. Ruen Drilling Smith & Sons Construction, LLC Spencer Fluid Power Spherion Recruiting and Staffing Square D by Schneider Electric SWCA Environmental Consultants Techline Services, Inc. Tetra Tech, Inc. The Archibald Company, Inc. The Industrial Company (TIC) Titan, Inc. Town Pump, Inc. Tractor & Equipment Co. TREC, Inc. – A Woodard & Curran Company Tri State Truck & Equipment, Inc. Trihydro Corporation Warren Transport, Inc. Water & Environmental Technologies WE Dust Control and De-Icing, Inc. Westate Machinery Company Western States Equipment Xylem Dewatering Solutions, Inc. Individual Professionals David L. Armstrong, Sr. Ted Antonioli Michael Bailey Hart Baitis Keith R. Blair Thurman Cardwell Tom Carter Jeff Choquette Michael Clark Bruce E. Cox Steve Cutler Alex Deeds Brad Eberspecher Gary Elwell Ken Eurick Fess Foster E.A. Andy Johnson Kate Lehmann Gordon Levin Pat Lorello Jeff Maichel

Thank you to our members for a wonderful year!

Rex McLachlin Doug Mitch Steven M. Nye Dolores J. Rife Scott D. Rosenthal Josh Savit Casey Schmitt Brandon Smith Pam Spinelli Scott Sylvester Ted Topolski Matt Vincent Timothy W. Ware Individual, Hobbyist, and Student Members Eirik Anderson Carole Armstrong Rick Barkell Patrick H. Beddow Dusty Birge Lisa Boettcher Frank Duval

Brian Mullaney Alan Nelson Tina Nolevanko Linda Norvell Brian Park Douglas C. Parker Mark Reinsel Robert Routa Debbie Shea Phil Sledge Michael A. Starkey, DDS Kelly Stolp Dave Stratton Chuck Swysgood John E. Thompson Jim Volberding

John Fitzpatrick Ennis Geraghty Rusty Gibson Terry Grotbo Jerry Hanley David Harris W. R. Henderson John Hinther Kenneth Hitron Tracy Holeman Larry Johnson John Junnila J.C. Kantorwicz Pete Kagan Stan Krueger Eric Larsen Tom Larson Jim Liebetrau John Marshall Robin McCulloch Rod McElwain Rich W. McKamy Dennis Morelock

Lifetime Members Tom Harrington Alan Joscelyn Doug Miller Mark Thompson Courtney Young

Bison + EEMC

Serving You Better Together Air quality experts guiding you through the expanding maze of environmental regulations.

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Digital copy available online at www.montanamining.org

79

Top tobe Bea a Top10 10Reasons reasons to MontanaMining MiningAssociation Association Member Montana member

MMA is the state’s premier advocate for mineral exploration and development, successfully influencing political decisions, building effective working strategies, coordinating industry’s response to legislative and regulatory issues, and informing pubic opinion of the industry.

MMA brings corporate interests together with those of explorationists, small miners, grassroots members, vendors and suppliers, and represents all proactively.

MMA’s Annual Meeting and Trade Show offers informative programming and networking opportunities, and highlights the accomplishments of MMA members.

MMA supports education through its Ambassador program, the 8th Grade Essay Contest, and provides multiple scholarships to the future mining leaders who are enrolled in Mining Engineering; Metallurgical & Materials Engineering; Geological Engineering; Environmental Engineering, or Geophysical Engineering at Montana Tech.

Participation in MMA will increase the entire industry’s ability to defeat anti-mining efforts and propaganda, as well as adverse regulatory proposals.

MMA keeps members informed on issues and provides important insight and information related to the mining industry.

MMA offers a host of voluntary leadership opportunities through our Board of Directors and committees. Committees are as follows: Education; Environmental, Health and Safety, Education; Legislative; and Membership.

MMA has built effective coalitions with other natural resources industries, multiple use lands and recreational groups, elected officials, and others to encourage multiinterest support for mining projects and related land use issues.

MMA is committed to promoting public health and safety as essential elements of exploration and mining, to ensure that every worker comes home safely at the end of every shift.

MMA works closely with state, regional, and national mining associations to respond to the countless regulatory and legislative challenges confronting the mining industry.

Montana Mining Association

MONTANA MINING ASSOCIATION 2017 Membership Application Form (Please Print Clearly)

Company Name

# of Employees

Title Contact Name

Address

City, State, Zip Address

Phone

Mobile

Email

Website

The MMA has four primary types of membership with sub-classifications: Please check the box that applies to you or your company.

Open to any individual who is interested in supporting or learning more about the mining industry.

$50

☐ Individual- Open to any “professional” individual. Examples include: Professional Geologist, lawyer, surveyor, exploration, consulting, etc.

$100

☐ Individual- Open to any current employee of a MMA producer member.

Employee

$10

☐ Individual- Open to any member of WMEMA or a student. (Please Hobbyist include WMEMA/school name on the Company line above.)

$10

☐ Individual

☐ Associate

☐ Non-Producer

☐ Producer

Open to any business, allied trade association, or supplier that provides services or products to the mining industry. ☐ Less than 15 Employees - $500.00 ☐ More than 15 Employees - $750.00

Open to companies or individuals not currently producing product in Montana. Includes all projects in exploration or reclamation phase and mine and mill process development.

Open to companies engaged in hard rock mining in Montana and actively mining and producing product for sale. ☐ More than 30 Employees - $13,000.00 ☐ Between 20-30 Employees - $1,800.00 ☐ Between 10-20 Employees - $500.00 ☐ Small Miner (1-9 Employees) - $100.00 Sand and gravel, semi-precious stone, decorative rock. ☐ Less than 10 Employees - $500.00 ☐ More than 10 Employees - $1,000.00

Payment Options: ☐ My Check is Enclosed ☐ Please Bill Credit Card

card Name on Card

☐ Please Invoice

Exp.

Code

Card #

Billing Address

Please send your application to: Montana Mining Association, P.O. Box 1026, Whitehall, MT 59759 Phone: 406-287-3012 / Office Email: mma@montanamining.org Web: www.montanamining.org

$2,000

Index to advertisers Affco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Environomics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Northwest Pipe Company Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

All State Fire Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Ezzie’s Wholesale Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

O’Keefe Drilling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Amec Foster Wheeler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

F&h Mining Supply Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Pacific Inter-Mountain Distribution . . . . . . . 23

Ames Construction, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Paradine Mill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Arnold Machinery Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

Fickler Oil Company, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Pierce Leasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Ash Grove Cement Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

FlowTech Fueling Llc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC

Rdo Equipment Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Atlas Copco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Gma Garnet Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Richwood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine. . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Graymont Western US. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Rma – Ima. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Bbg Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Groundhog Mining & Milling Co.. . . . . . . . . . 19

Ruen Drilling, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

Billings Clinic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

HD Supply Waterworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Small Mine Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Bison Engineering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Holland & Hart Llp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Stillwater Mining Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Brenntag Pacific Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Hydrometrics, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Tetra Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Broadway Gold Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Ids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Tintina Resources Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Browning Kaleczyc Berry & Hoven PC. . . . . . 61

Imerys Talc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Toole & Feeback, Pllp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Buckley Powder Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Industrial Automation Consulting Inc. . . . . . 66

Tractor & Equipment Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Childs Geoscience Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Interstate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 & 64

Trec, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Contact Mining Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

J.S. Redpath Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Trihydro Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Crh Us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Knight Piésold Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

We Dust Control & De-icing, Inc . . . . . . . . . . 47

Cross Petroleum Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Montana Crane Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Westate Machinery Company . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Crowley Fleck Pllp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Montana Electric Motors Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Western States Equipment Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Cummins Sales & Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Montana Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Westmoreland Coal Company. . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Dakota Supply Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Nelson Bros. Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Wwc Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Newfields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Wyoming Mechanical Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Dick Irvin Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 SMD_Ad_Layout Page 1 Northwest Mine Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Energy Laboratories.1. . 17-10-31 . . . . . . . . . 3:47 . . . . .PM . . . 76

Xylem Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Small Mine Development -UNDERGROUND-MINING-CONTRACTORSBUILDING & OPERATING AMERICA’S UNDERGROUND MINES

www.undergroundmining.com

208-338-8880 82

Montana Mining Association — Montana Mining 2017-2018

2000 Four Mile Vue Road PO Box 3810 Butte, MT 59702 Office: 406-494-3310 Fax: 406-494-3301 www.okeefedrilling.com

®

TRADEMARK A United States registered trademark is something unique and exclusive.

You will find our Silver Service® to be more than just a trademark. It is our symbol of assurance to you that . . . customer Satisfaction is Our Only Policy®!

(801) 972-4000 Construction Equipment Division | Mining Equipment Division | Material Handling Equipment Division | General Implement Distributors Division Salt Lake City | Logan | Idaho Falls | Boise | Twin Falls | Elko | Reno | Las Vegas | Phoenix | Tucson | Flagstaff Portland | Billings | Gillette | Casper | Denver | Johnstown | Colorado Springs | Grand Junction | Jamestown | Grand Rapids | Minneapolis

www.arnoldmachinery.com

RESULTS MATTER Safer, cleaner, more reliable fueling processes that will increase productivity & reduce costs

Located in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming, FlowTech has over 80 years of combined mining experience with a heavy emphasis on equipment maintenance. Fueling process improvement is our core business, not just a department within our company. Serving the mining industry since 2001, FlowTech has earned a reputation for providing superior service well beyond the sale.

FlowTech has worked with a diverse range of companies throughout North America to develop customized fuel plans to meet their specific needs.

Our expertise in fueling process improvement will help you increase productivity, reduce operating costs, improve operator safety and minimize environmental impacts.

PRODUCTS & SERVICES FlowTech provides sales and service on the following products: • Nonpressure Fuel Systems • FloMax Fuel Nozzles & Fluid Connectors • Mobile Fueling Depots • DEF Storage/Dispensing Systems • Comprehensive Fuel Filtration

COMPREHENSIVE FUELING SOLUTIONS

that won’t impact the environment or your bottom line FUEL OVERFILL PREVENTION SYSTEMS – MOBILE FUEL DEPOTS HIGH FLOW FUEL FILTRATION – FUEL/LUBE CONNECTORS FUEL NOZZLES SALES & REPAIR – DEF STORAGE & DISPENSING SOLUTIONS

Contact Fritz Kruger | 307.696.9754 | fritzk@flowtechfueling.com

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