Most Montanans don’t support I-137: poll

Fifty-eight per cent of Montana voters would support efforts to modify or overturn I-137, the law passed in 1998 that bans the use of cyanide in open-pit gold and silver mining, according to a poll financed by Colorado-based Canyon Resources.

The poll shows that a majority of people would support replacing I-137 with a new law that includes new safety and environmental controls but allows cyanide leaching.

Twenty-one per cent of those polled were undecided, while 22% were opposed to changing I-137.

Canyon spent more than US$75 million developing its 10-million-oz. McDonald gold project, near Lincoln, Mont., which was stopped when I-137 was passed.

According to the poll, 84% of Montanans believe it is possible to have a healthy mining industry in the state and protect the environment at the same time.

“There is clearly room for optimism that I-137, which has cost the mining industry and the state of Montana dearly, may be overturned,” says Canyon President Richard De Voto, whose company is challenging I-137 in state and federal Courts.

Initiative I-137 was passed by a margin of 52% to 48%.

The poll was conducted by Portland, Ore.-based Moore Information.