North Fork protection may come as treaty

Obama, Canadian PM look to solidify MOU, which lacks funding

By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News

A deal to permanently protect the North Fork of the Flathead from mining and energy exploration could ultimately be resolved in a treaty between the two countries.

President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Monday that they were directing their federal agencies to look at ways of solidyfying a deal struck between Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and British Columbia Prime Minister Gordon Campbell in February.

A memorandum of understanding signed by both parties would ban oil, gas and mineral development in the river drainage, which is also the western boundary of Glacier National Park.

But the MOU has hit a snag in recent weeks — funding to pay off companies that have already invested in mining claims hasn't come to fruition. Schweitzer said he expected the cash to come from the federal government. So far, that hasn't happened.

The governor said the hope is to secure funding from a bill in Congress known as the Columbia River Restoration Act. The bill authorizes up to $40 million in restoration and cleanup of the river.

The Flathead is part of the Columbia River system.

"The North Fork is the crown jewel and it ought to be included," in the Act, Schweitzer said Saturday. "This looks like a vehicle forward … We think Congress should move to include (North Fork funding) in the Act."

But a broader solution now appears to be on the table.

Both Montana Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus have called for four-way talks that would include federal agencies from the two countries as well as the state and province.

Tester said Monday that involvement by the Obama administration was "huge."

But he also cautioned that details on exactly who would pay to retire claims in Canada had to be worked out.

"This is not a slam dunk," he said.

Even so, the parties appear to be willing to work together, an historic accomplishment in itself. Canada and the U.S. have squabbled about mining in the Flathead for the past 50 years.

"We're moving full-steam ahead to get everyone on the same page, because we all support the end game," Tester said. "It's time we move forward with everyone working together at the table, with all options on the table. That's why Max and I have spent weeks shaping it to try to make it work for the North Fork."

Prior to the MOU, the Cline Mining Co. had plans to develop a coal mine in the headwaters of the North Fork and Max Resources was searching for gold in a tributary of the river.

Initially, Schweitzer told news agencies it would cost $17 million to buy out those companies' investments. But Saturday he backed away from that number, saying it was up the province to provide invoices.

Whatever the case, Schweitzer said the payout is far less than the $5 to $7 billion British Columbian government stands to lose by giving up the mine royalties.

Since the MOU was signed a host of leases, totaling 180,000 acres, have been retired on the U.S. side of the border and Flathead County is currently working on zoning changes that would limit the size of gravel pits in the North Fork.

The MOU has a July deadline.