After decades of protest from ranchers, sportsmen, and conservationists, the Surface Transportation Board just denied the permit for the proposed Tongue River Railroad. The TRR would have fragmented some of the best wildlife habitat in the state to ship Montana coal to Asia.
The Surface Transportation Board decided to “deny TRRC’s request to hold this proceeding in abeyance and instead dismiss the proceeding without prejudice. At this time, there appears to be little prospect that Otter Creek Coal’s mine permit will be secured in the foreseeable future. Otter Creek Coal and its parent, Arch, have both filed for bankruptcy, and Otter Creek Coal has suspended its application for an MDEQ mining permit indefinitely.”
This is another huge victory in protecting the Tongue River Valley from development. This agricultural valley provides ranchers and farmers the ability to carry on the traditions of past generations. The Tongue River Valley also provides some of the best habitat in the country, with pheasants, pronghorn, and trophy mule deer calling the valley home. Hunters and anglers should rejoice to know that this valley will continue to be a paradise, where future generations will be able to wet their lines and chase game.
