Wildlife Mitigation

Revett's Grizzly Bear Mitigation Plan:

Revett has committed to a comprehensive grizzly bear  mitigation plan for the Rock Creek Project that is a major step towards creating a total  recovery plan for the entire Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem.  The key components of this plan, estimated to cost approximately $30M to be spread over the 25 to 30 years life of the project, are as follows:

  • Revett will purchase 2,450 acres of high priority grizzly bear habitat to be set aside from future development and managed by the US Forest Service;
  • Revett will fund three position for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for the life of the project to focus on law enforcement, preventing wildlife conflicts, and monitoring of grizzly bear populations;
  • Revett will provide bear resistant garbage containers to employees and others living in grizzly habitat areas;
  • Revett will provide funding for fencing of garbage transfer stations; and
  • Revett will bus employees to and from the mine to reduce road traffic; and
  • Revett will prohibit employees from carrying firearms within the permit area.

The following is a brief description of the grizzly bear protection actions taken to date.

Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks - Biologist Employment: 

Even though construction of the first phase of the project, mostly located on U.S. Forest Service administered land, has not yet begun, Revett agreed to early funding of the employment of a Biologist to be hired by Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks (MFWP).  This early funding started in 2006 and totals over $400,000 to date.  The funding was done in an effort to help maintain existing grizzly bear populations through augmentation of new bears and to reduce mortality. 

MFWP has continuously employed a biologist in this position since early 2007 providing grizzly bear education to the communities in the area and Revett’s employees at the Troy Mine.  The education outreach program  is an effective tool to reduce grizzly bear mortality in the CYE.  This biologist works closely with the USFWS biologist managing grizzly bear recovery efforts in the CYE.

  • In addition to providing the funding to MFWP, Revett has also purchased two separate parcels of land for preservation of grizzly bear habitat.  The two parcels are known as the Noggle Creek Property and the West Fisher (or American Kootenai) Property.
     
  • The Noggle Creek Property is located in the Bull River valley south of Bull Lake, a key corridor area for grizzly bear connectivity between the East and West Cabinet Mountains.  This 655 Acre property is adjacent to the State managed Bull River Game Management Area and was purchased cooperatively with MFWP.  Revett purchased 400 acres for $2.6M and MFWP purchased the other 255 acres.  This property has an approved subdivision and was in the process of being developed by Plum Creek Timber Co.
     
  • The West Fisher property is located at the head of Fisher Creek on the east side of the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness area as shown on the following map.  This property was the number 2 priority property identified by biologists as part of the grizzly bear mitigation plan.  This property purchase for approximately $1M is a historic mining property consisting of 273 acres of land located in prime grizzly bear habitat.  The following document further explains the purchase of the West Fisher Property listed as property “7M” in the mitigation plan property list.


Revett's Acquisition of Key Grizzly Bear Habitat Properties