Dear Editor,
I have been a landowner in the Bull Mountains and ranched for over 40 years. My land is adjacent to the Bull Mountains Mine operated by Signal Peak Energy (SPE). We ranch on deeded and leased land comprising over 13,000+ acres. I want to respond to the misinformation that my ranching neighbors have spread about the impacts the Mine has had on the surface and water resources in the area.
We have watched SPE operate from the first day it started mining. I have checked the surface many times and found little or no damage where SPE has taken the coal out. If operations cause any surface damage or small cracks, the Mine immediately deploys the best reclamation procedure. They have excellent contractors on scene as soon as possible.
We maintain 16 water wells drilled from 100 ft. to 460 ft. with flows from 5 to 50 gal/minute. I have wells within three miles of the Signal Peak mining. We have not seen any decrease in flow in the last 40+ years on old wells and no decrease in flow on newer wells. Water wells that are drilled have no effect from SPE mining.
My neighbors are spreading lies about the impacts of the Mine to force its closure which would have a devastating impact on the Roundup community and the people of Musselshell County. I support the efforts of Senator Daines and Governor Gianforte to keep the Mine open.
Haven Marsh
Roundup, MT
