Montana
Montana Tunnels: Another mining disaster – Daily Montanan
The severely misnamed Montana Department of Environmental Quality recently announced that it was “initiating the bond forfeiture process for the Montana Tunnels mine after the mine failed to make a $1.5 million reclamation bond payment in December that was a court-approved bankruptcy stipulation.”
This latest disaster — in a long string of abandoned, bankrupt and perpetually-polluting mines — brings to mind the old adage: “The once burnt child fears the fire.” But in Montana’s case, it’s more like we’ve been napalmed — and the state agencies, apparently incapable of learning from our costly and destructive mistakes, continue to permit mining.
The Montana Tunnels mine became “fully operational” in 1986. For those who may not remember, this was 10 years after ARCO bought out the Anaconda Co. in what Wall Street eventually called “the worst corporate acquisition of the decade.”
Forty years later, the “reclamation” debacle continues to drag on with Butte, Anaconda and the Upper Clark Fork carrying the stigma of being the largest Superfund site in the nation.
The year of 1986 was also well into the era when the mining industry promised “new” mining would never create environmental disasters. But considering the long list of environmental disasters the industry has since left behind, one might think our “regulatory” agencies would realize they shouldn’t consider the promises of mining corporations seriously.
The old “take the gold and declare bankruptcy” ploy has left Montanans on the taxpayer hook for more than $100 million at the former Pegasus Gold Zortman-Landusky mine alone — to say nothing of its abandoned Beal Mountain Mine. Then there was ASARCO’s Mike Horse Mine that poisoned the Blackfoot River when it’s poorly-engineered tailings dam failed — and that continues to leach and require treatment of acid mine drainage. Or how about W.R. Grace’s disaster in Libby that killed — and continues to kill — hundreds of Montanans thanks to asbestosis from their vermiculite mining operation?
And then, of course, there’s Golden Sunlight — hailed as the bright light of “new mining” — it now requires treatment in perpetuity to address cyanide-poisoned water at the very confluence of the Boulder and Jefferson rivers. This disaster launched the successful citizens’ initiative to ban cyanide heap leach mining in Montana in the late 1990s. Notably, it came from citizens, not Montana’s Legislature, governor or its “environmental quality” agency.
As noted in the recent article: “But the troubled mine hasn’t operated since 2008, and its permit was suspended in 2018 for failure to post an adequate bond. In December 2022, Montana Tunnels filed for Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy protection.”
The Department of Environmental Quality, meanwhile, holds about half of the $40 million reclamation cost.
Faced with another very large hole in the ground that’s filling with water as its side-walls collapse, the Gianforte administration, like the Republican and Democrat administrations before it, isn’t leaping into action to begin reclamation — it’s looking for someone to buy it and says it has five years before it terminates the permit.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me over and over and over again — shame on the Department of Environmental Quality and the Republican and Democrat governors who continue to ignore our constitution and sell out present and future generations by kowtowing to hit-and-run mining corporations.
George Ochenski is a longtime Helena resident, an environmental activist and Montana’s longest-running columnist.
BILLINGS — A new report highlighting aging roads and bridges across Montana is raising concerns in Billings, but transportation leaders say long-term investments and infrastructure projects are already underway to address the problem.
Watch the story below:
Montana transportation leaders address aging infrastructure at Billings summit
The report from national transportation research group TRIP found seven bridges in the Billings area are in poor condition, while another 186 are rated fair. Statewide, nearly one-third of Montana’s major roads are considered in poor condition, and 7% of bridges are classified as structurally deficient.
New report flags Billings bridges, rough roads as infrastructure concerns
The report did not identify the specific bridges in Billings.
For residents like Alisha Oster, who works at a gas station near the Blue Creek bridge that spans the Yellowstone River, concerns about aging infrastructure feel personal. She said crossing the bridge can feel unsettling, especially when large trucks pass through.
“When you go across it, it sounds like it’s cracking sometimes,” Oster said. “It just sometimes makes me feel like I’m just going to fall.”
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
Crews rehabilitated the Blue Creek bridge in 2024, but Oster said the report heightened concerns about other bridges in the Billings area.
“So it is concerning, not just this bridge, but like all the other bridges around Billings,” she said. “What happens if the bridge does cave in?”
Transportation leaders said the report’s findings were expected and reflect challenges the state has already been working to address.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
“We’re well aware that it was going to come out,” Montana Department of Transportation Director Chris Dorrington said. “The results are not surprising. Some of Montana’s roads and bridges need attention.”
On Thursday, transportation officials, contractors, and local leaders gathered at the Northern Hotel in downtown Billings for the 2026 Infrastructure Summit, where discussions focused on long-term transportation and infrastructure needs across the state.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
Dorrington said the summit brought together stakeholders from transportation, water, and wastewater systems, local governments, and private industry.
“We all came together … all interested in trying to do the very best of what we can for Montana’s transportation system,” Dorrington said.
David Smith, executive director of the Montana Contractors Association and chair of the Montana Infrastructure Coalition, said many rural and county-owned bridges across Montana are decades old and in need of repair or replacement.
“We have a lot of off-system bridges, which are county bridges that are in old shape,” Smith said. “They’re 70, 80, 90 years old, so they need attention.”
Dorrington said MDT monitors thousands of bridges statewide through a rotating inspection schedule and has already developed long-term investment plans to address deteriorating infrastructure.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
“In Montana, out of 5,000 (bridges), we have a lot that are going to need to be rebuilt, in addition to being maintained,” Dorrington said. “We look at the report as an indicator.”
He said the state plans to invest $1 billion into bridge projects over the next five years, including repairs or replacements for roughly 40 bridges annually.
Montana bridges are breaking down, but state has $1 billion plan to fix them
Still, officials acknowledged that inflation and rising construction costs continue stretching transportation dollars thinner.
“We still receive about the same amount of fuel tax revenues, and cars are more efficient,” Smith said. “So the income level for the state has been pretty flat through the years, but the cost of construction has greatly increased.”
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
The TRIP report warned that delaying repairs only increases long-term costs. According to the report, every dollar of deferred road and bridge maintenance can lead to an additional $4 to $5 in future repair costs.
Aging roads and rising costs put pressure Montana’s infrastructure system
Despite the challenges, officials pointed to major projects already completed in Billings as evidence that infrastructure investments are improving safety and capacity. Smith highlighted the recently completed $72 million Yellowstone River bridge replacement on Interstate 90.
“It increased the safety and the capacity for the interstate through Billings,” Smith said. “It’s been a great project, but it’s not cheap.”
Leaders at the summit also discussed future transportation projects, including planned improvements to the Johnson Lane interchange in Lockwood, which is expected to become a diverging diamond interchange.
Isabel Spartz/MTN News
The summit also focused on broader infrastructure concerns beyond highways and bridges, including water systems, wastewater facilities, rail infrastructure, and airports.
While construction projects may frustrate drivers in the short term, leaders argued that proactive investment can prevent larger infrastructure failures and more expensive repairs later.
“It’s important that associations and government work together to try and make sure that we’re in front of those things and anticipating where there might be failures in the future and mitigate that,” Smith said.
After approval from the board of trustees, Cancer Support Community Montana will expand and add a physical location in Helena.
Established in 2004, the non-profit currently has chapters in Missoula and Bozeman, while Helena has been operating as a chapter-in-development.
Now that members have voted to become a full chapter, they’re looking to find a permanent space in Helena where people can gather for support and connection.
Recent data shows nearly 600 people in the Helena area are diagnosed with cancer each year.
The non-profit offers free support programs with the goal of fostering community and breaking down barriers to care.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 20, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 20 drawing
10-28-30-46-57, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from May 20 drawing
05-14-26-39-46, Star Ball: 06, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from May 20 drawing
14-18-25-30, Bonus: 07
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 20 drawing
12-27-37-40-66, Powerball: 17
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from May 20 drawing
02-37-39-42-43
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 20 drawing
14-23-27-44-50, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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