Illuminating Signal Peak’s destruction of water sources in the Bull Mountains

In December, Northern Plains joined Earthjustice, Montana Environmental Information Center, and the Western Environmental Law Center in filing a formal complaint with state and federal agencies against Signal peak Energy (Signal Peak), a criminally-convicted coal company operating an underground coal mine in the Bull Mountains just north of Billings, Montana. We filed our first complaint earlier this summer detailing the criminal behavior of Signal Peak. The new complaint directs the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation, and Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to put a stop to mining until Signal Peak meets the requirements of the law and its mining permit. 

The complaint cites evidence of the mine’s repeated and ongoing damage to water sources that impact the livelihoods of local ranchers and residents, threatening the broader ecological viability of the Bull Mountains and surrounding area. In addition to damaging water sources, the complaint specifically addresses Signal Peak’s failure to reclaim springs damaged by its mine and failure to comply with permit requirements for assessing impacts to springs. The document also highlights the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s failure to enforce Signal Peak to abide by permit obligations and criteria in federal and state law around water replacement and monitoring. 

“Time and again, this company has proven it is unwilling to follow the law or show any respect or decency to this community,” said Steve Charter, a member and Bull Mountains rancher. “Signal Peak has destroyed my wells, damaged and destroyed vital springs, and used underhanded tactics to disrupt my ranch and try to force me off of my land. Laws must be enforced, and this criminal activity must be stopped.”

Related Posts

DEQ’s oversight failures in the Bull Mountains creates crisis for ranchers

DEQ’s oversight failures in the Bull Mountains creates crisis for ranchers

As many of you know, Signal Peak Energy, the operator of the Bull Mountains Mine near Roundup, has been a reckless company. Signal Peak...
Read More
Northern Plains gets national attention fighting cronyism and corruption at the legislature

Northern Plains gets national attention fighting cronyism and corruption at the legislature

Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, in collaboration with the Montana Free Press exposed how politicians are colluding with NorthWestern Energy and others to guarantee big corporate profits while everyday Montanans pay the price. Northern Plains members Jeanie Alderson, Steve Krum, and Wally McRae described their experiences on the front lines as they’ve fought to protect their communities from toxic pollution and industry greed.

Read More
Clint McRae and Pat Thiele: Gov. Gianforte, please stand up for ranchers and rural communities

Clint McRae and Pat Thiele: Gov. Gianforte, please stand up for ranchers and rural communities

Read More

Stand up with us to protect this place we all call home.

WordPress Lightbox