Kootenai National Forest

Rock Creek Project

The Rock Creek Project is an underground copper and silver mine proposed by Sterling Mining, Inc. and is located in Sanders County Montana.

Letter of Determination

The Kootenai has issued Revett Minerals, Inc. a letter notifying them that they may conduct surface disturbing activities as authorized by their Plan of Operations after all the applicable conditions have been met as outlined in the Kootenai's Record of Decision (ROD) with respect to the Evaluation Adit.

• Letter of Determination - (pdf | 23k)

Supplemental Information Reports

Rock Creek Supplemental Information Report (SIR) for Evaluation Adit Implementation

The Forest Service conducted a review of the information contained in the submitted revised Evaluation Adit Plan and in DEQ’s Environmental Assessment to determine its importance and whether a correction, supplement, or revision to the Rock Creek EIS is necessary and if the Record of Decision needed to be amended. The following Supplemental Information Report (Section 18.1) documents the review.

• Rock Creek Supplemental Information Report (FSH 1909.15 Section 18.1) Evaluation Adit Implementation - (pdf | 772k)

The following documents are also relevant to this SIR Analysis

• Appendix A: DEQ’s Draft Environmental Assessment - (pdf | 58.8mb)
• Appendix B: DEQ’s Figures, Exhibits and Table for the Draft Environmental - (pdf | 17.7mb)
• Appendix C: DEQ’s Final Environmental Assessment - (pdf | 67.6mb)
• Appendix D: Stipulations - (pdf | 26.4mb)
• Appendix E: RC Resources Trace Test Status Report - (pdf | 6.8mb)

Other Reports

• Fisheries and Wildlife - (pdf | 453k)
• Subsidence - (pdf | 797k)
• Joint Operations - (pdf | 1.9mb)

Final Biological Opinion

This document transmits the Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) final biological opinions based on the Service's review of the proposed Revett Silver Company's Rock Creek Copper/Silver Mine Project (Rock Creek Mine) and associated mining operations.

• Final Biological Opinion - (pdf | 10.1MB) - October 11, 2006
• Supplemental to the Final Biological Opinion - (pdf | 4.9mb) - September 27, 2007

Record of Decision (ROD) - June 2003

Following 16 years of comprehensive and detailed environmental analysis and review, the Kootenai National Forest (NF) today announced release of the Record of Decision (ROD) for Sterling Mining Company's Plan of Operation for the Rock Creek Mine Project in Sanders County, Montana. A joint ROD was issued by the KNF and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in December 2001.  Forest Supervisor Bob Casteneda withdrew the 2001 ROD however, when the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) withdrew their Biological Opinion on the project leaving the environmental analysis void of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) documentation necessary for a decision.   The decision made by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), independent of USFWS's Biological Opinion, remains in effect.   

On May 9, 2003, the USFWS issued a new Biological Opinion (BO); making it possible for the Kootenai NF to incorporate applicable information and render a new ROD for the Rock Creek Project. This June 2003 ROD summarizes the decision, rationale for the decision, and alternatives considered in reaching the decision.   Additionally, the ROD documents the Kootenai NF and DEQ requirements neccessary for Sterling Mining Company to be successful in their request for mining permits and approvals associated with this project.  

UPDATE: The BO has been superseded by the one linked above and dated October 11, 2006.

• News Release - June 27, 2003
• Record of Decision (PDF: 2.2MB) - June 2003

Final Environmental Impact Statement - FEIS
September 2001

Note: These documents are available in Adobe® PDF format which requires the free viewer. These documents can be quite large, but will load in the background while you are beginning viewing of the document. Sizes are noted below.

Documents

Cover Letter - 401k Letter regarding the Rock Creek Project Final Environmental Impact Statement release Summary -2.5M Summary of the Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume 1 -24.2M The primary FEIS document. Includes Summary, Purpose and Need for Action, alternatives considered, and affected environment and consequences. Volume 2 -78.6M Appendices Volume 2 Appexdix E US Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion UPDATE: The BO in the FEIS has been superseded by the one linked above and dated October 11, 2006. Volume 3 -7M Responses to Comment regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement Volume 4 -5.4M Respones to Comments regarding Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

USDA Forest Service - Kootenai National Forest
Last Modified: Monday, 17 August 2009 at 10:38:33 EDT