Sandfire Resources America Inc. Announces Win at the Montana Supreme Court with Complete Reinstatement of the Mine Operating Permit
Sandfire Resources America Inc. Announces Win at the Montana Supreme
Court with Complete Reinstatement of the Mine Operating Permit
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, Mont., Feb. 26, 2024 -- Sandfire Resources America Inc . (“Sandfire America” or the
“Company”) announces the positive ruling by the Montana Supreme Court which reversed a 2021 district court decision and
instructed the District Judge to have the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MT DEQ) to completely reinstate
Tintina Montana Inc.’s Mine Operating Permit, of the Black Butte Copper Project.
The Montana Supreme Court granted the Company’s request for summary judgement allowing Black Butte Copper to move
forward with construction of its highly engineered, underground copper mine. The Company won on all counts in the Montana
Supreme Court decision with a 5-2 decision upholding the 2020 decision of the MT DEQ to allow copper mining at the Black
Butte Copper Project, overturning a District Court ruling that had invalidated the mining permit.
The original suit was filed jointly against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and Tintina Montana Inc. (“Tintina,”
Sandfire America’s wholly owned subsidiary) on June 4th, 2020, and the Montana Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the
case on June 21, 2023. Additional intervenors in the suit supporting the MT DEQ and Tintina, include Meagher County,
Broadwater County, and the Montana Department of Justice.
Lincoln Greenidge, CEO of Sandfire America shared, “Today’s victory in the Montana Supreme Court is a validation of the
thoughtful and deliberate efforts of the Sandfire America team to design a world-class, environmentally safe mining project from
the beginning. The fact is, ours is the most reviewed and examined proposed project in the history of Montana mining. The
Court record stands at over 90,000 pages of testimony, information, and analysis. We thank the justices for their ruling, and
their ability to recognize the amount of effort and extensive work that has gone into this project. Now, we look forward to
progressing the project in a safe, responsible, and sustainable manner.”
Senior VP, Jerry Zieg concluded stating, “Tintina’s permit has been diligently considered by the professional and hardworking
staff at the MT DEQ. It is a fantastic, well-designed project with a plan centered around safety which is why we were
successful today. Over a decade ago, we set out to design a state of the art, environmentally protective underground mining
project, and this decision is proof we’ve been successful.”
Black Butte Copper now has all permits to proceed with the project. Stipulated agreements regarding water rights granted
through the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (MT DNRC) for the project have been finalized with all
water rights being issued and available. There is a challenge to the Montana Constitution’s definition of the “beneficial use of
water” using Black Butte Copper’s water use permit to challenge this definition. This case does not currently affect the
Company’s water rights package. The challenge, naming both the MT DNRC and Tintina Montana Inc., was appealed by
objectors after their loss at District Court and will be heard by Montana Supreme Court on Friday, March 29, 2024.
Contact Information:
Sandfire Resources America Inc.
Nancy Schlepp, VP of Communications and Government Relations
Mobile: 406-224-8180
Office: 406-547-3466
Email: [email protected]
Jerry Zieg, Vice President of Exploration for the Company, is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has also
reviewed and approved the information of a scientific or technical nature contained in this news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain disclosures in this document constitute “forward looking
information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements related to the Company’s Mine
Operating Permit, the Company’s water rights , permitting timelines and the Company’s plans for advancing the Black Butte
Copper Project and expected outcomes. In making these forward-looking statements, the Company has applied certain
factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable, including that the Company will receive required
regulatory approvals, that the Company will continue to be able to access sufficient funding to execute its plans, and that the
results of exploration and development activities are consistent with management’s expectations. However, the forward-looking
statements in this document are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors, including factors relating to the
Company’s operation as a mineral exploration and development company and the Black Butte Copper Project, that may cause
future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including that results of
exploration and development activities will not be consistent with management’s expectations, delays in obtaining or inability
to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals or financing, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as
anticipated, the risk of accidents, labor disputes, inclement or hazardous weather conditions, unusual or unexpected
geological conditions, ground control problems, earthquakes, flooding and all of the other risks generally associated with the
development of mining facilities. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual
results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or
obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.