cccbm.org/archives/2007_08.html -
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Published on: 8/1/2007
Last Visited: 11/20/2007
Mike Volesky, natural resources policy adviser to Schweitzer, announced the transboundary symposium would be part of an effort to jump-start diplomatic relations between the state and the province.
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"There's certainly been a lull in the communication between B.C. and Montana, but it's not an issue that's going to go away," Volesky said.
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Mr. Volesky concedes that Montana is indeed pushing coal-based development in other parts of the state, but points out that environmental values are significantly greater in the Rocky Mountains.
"The U.S. Flathead has some of the same resources as the Canadian Flathead, obviously, they don't stop at the border," he said."That sort of development would never be considered on the U.S. side."
While Mr. van Dongen would not elaborate on the "impasse" in the B.C.-Montana talks, Mr. Volesky confirmed it revolves around a difference of opinion about how much environmental baseline data need to be collected before specific projects can be assessed.