HAMILTON — We are taking a deeper look at Monday's public meeting about the proposed Sheep Creek mine and the project’s permitting review process.
Hundreds of people turned out in Hamilton to share their thoughts on the proposed Sheep Creek Mine, south of Darby.
The Sheep Creek area has been the subject of a controversial proposal for a rare earth elements mine for the last few years.
Watch to hear more from Monday night's meeting:
U.S. Critical Materials, the company behind the project, says it is one of the purest spots in North America to mine the minerals needed for high-tech devices, like phones and electric cars, which mostly come from overseas.
“The unique nature of Sheep Creek. And the geology that's there allows us to easily support. Environmental conservation while supporting national security and resource responsibility," said U.S. Critical Materials senior advisor Scott Osterman.
But, many in the Bitterroot have expressed concerns over the project, especially as the proposed site is near the headwaters of the West Fork of the Bitterroot River.
The project was recently added to the FAST-41 transparency list, part of a program intended to streamline federal review of infrastructure projects.
For many, this heightened concerns, leading to Monday’s meeting with the Ravalli County commissioners.
The company says the FAST program just expedites the federal permit decision process, but doesn’t actually fast-track environmental or other reviews.
"What it means is not that we're skipping anything and we're not doing anything fast," Osterman noted.
But, many residents — from the commissioners to the public — say they don’t feel comfortable with the project’s inclusion in the FAST program.
Many also cited concerns over the type of mining being explored. U.S. Critical Materials says it would look different from many mines by using minimal water.
Most of the people who provided public comment at the meeting were skeptical.
Following hours of comments, the commissioners voted unanimously to send a letter opposing the project’s inclusion in the FAST Program, citing unanswered questions and a lack of local control.
A “permitting timetable” for the project was posted to the FAST transparency dashboard on Tuesday. It lists the estimated completion date of environmental review and permitting as May 21, 2027.
