Commissioners oppose anti-mining initiative

On Tuesday, Sanders County Commissioners Carol Brooker, Tony Cox and Glen Magera signed a resolution opposing anti-mining Initiative 186.

The initiative, sponsored by a group called Yes for Responsible Mining, needs more than 25,000 signatures to go before voters.

Last week, Secretary of State Corey Stapleton gave the group approval to begin the process of getting I-186 on the November ballot.

Sanders County Commissioner Carol Brooker said they oppose the initiative because “we support Hecla and the Montanore and Rock Creek mines, and what the mines will do for our county.”

In the resolution, the commissioners stated that the initiative would make unnecessary changes to Montana’s existing permitting structure and have a negative impatc on mining operations in Montana.