Court upholds stricter permitting for Montana hard rock mine

he Montana Supreme Court has upheld a judge’s ruling that a mining company must go through a stricter permitting process before it can build a copper and silver mine in northwestern Montana.

The justices in a 4-2 decision upheld Judge Kathy Seeley’s 2011 ruling that the more rigorous process for the Rock Creek mine will protect threatened bull trout habitat in the Cabinet Mountains.

Revett Minerals Inc. must apply for individual permits that require a public comment process instead of a general permit that had been approved by the state Department of Environmental Quality.