Press

Teresa Erickson spoke on “A Seat at the Table,” a book she wrote detailing the landmark Good Neighbor Agreement, an environmental pact between residents...

Since the GNA was initiated in 2000, GNA community members and independent tailings experts have identified and advocated for responsible tailings waste storage at the Stillwater and East Boulder mines. In 2015, Stillwater Mining Company began planning for expansion of its tailings storage facilities at the Stillwater and East Boulder Mine sites. Read on to learn how the GNA is ensuring responsible mine waste management in this expansion.

Striving to further strengthen the proactive and precautionary approach of the GNA’s existing Water Program, the Water Quality Adaptive Management Plans seek to maintain baseline water quality in groundwater and surface water, while going above and beyond state and federal requirements to ensure the East Boulder and Stillwater Rivers remain healthy and pristine.

For years, Northern Plains members fought against Stillwater Mining Company to protect water quality and the communities in Stillwater and Sweet Grass Counties. In 2000, spurred by action taken by Northern Plains members, the two sides worked together and negotiated an agreement to extend protections beyond state requirements to protect property, water, and area communities, while allowing platinum and palladium mining to proceed. The Good Neighbor Agreement has protected land with conservation easements, instituted a busing program to vastly reduce traffic on winding valley roads, and provided for independent environmental audits.