Flathead River International Study Board records, 1976-1991

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Flathead River International Study Board.
Title
Flathead River International Study Board records
Dates
1976-1991 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.6 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 259
Summary
These records consist of the files of an international board directed to evaluate the environmental impacts of the proposed Cabin Creek Coal Mine in British Columbia on, the Flathead River in Montana under the auspices of the International Joint Commission, 1985-1988. The files (1976-1991) include correspondence, financial records, board and hearing minutes, and committee and board reports (1985-1988). Also included are files of various subcommittees.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

On April 18, 1985, the International Joint Commission (IJC) established the Flathead River International Study Board to examine current water use, water quality, and fisheries of the Flathead River at the United States-Canadian border and to evaluate the effect upon the river of the construction, operation, and reclamation of the proposed Cabin Creek Coal Mine in British Columbia. The IJC was created in 1909 as part of the Boundary Waters Treaty as a means of arbitrating disputes between Canada and the United States over water issues. The Board, chaired jointly by Jim Posewitz, Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and E.M. Clark, Inland Waters Directorate, created six technical committees to collect and analyze data relevant to the proposed mine: the Mine Development Committee, the Water Quality and Quantity Committee, the Biological Resources Committee, the Water Uses Committee,the Water Quality Criteria Subcommittee, and the Limnology Task Force. Over a four year period, 1985-1988, public hearings were held in Montana and British Columbia and technical reports were written analyzing potential impacts on the Flathead River. In December 1988 the Board recommended that the mine, as proposed, not be approved because of concerns about impact on stream fisheries and habitat, resources protected in Article IV of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. Shortly thereafter, on December 15, 1988, the Canadian coal company, Rio Algom, announced that it would not pursue development of the Cabin Creek Coal Mine due to the low price of coal.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Records. 1976-1991. 4.6 linear feet. This collection consists of the files (1976-1991) kept by Richard Moy, Secretary to the Board and an employee of the Montana Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation. The records contain general correspondence, financial records, hearing minutes and transcripts, board minutes, reports, subject files, newspaper clippings, and printed materials, documenting the activities and concerns of the Flathead River International Study Board. In addition to Board records there are subgroups for subcommittees on Biological Resources, Limnology Task Force, Mine Development, Water Quality and Quantity, and Water Uses. The bulk of the collection consists of committee and board reports (1985-1988), which include editorial comments for the various technical drafts. The correspondence (1984-1991) between technicians and bureaucrats and their comments on various reviews, provides insight into the workings of Montana and British Columbia resource agencies and conflicts between the U.S. and Canada over resource development. Also significant are the public hearing transcripts (1985-1988), documenting public perceptions of resource issues. The library holds the printed reports and findings of the Board and various technical committees.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

by series

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

Flathead River International Study Board Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
General Correspondence
Box/Folder
1 / 1-5
Correspondence of Richard Moy (American secretary to the Board)
1984-1988
1 / 6
Comments (editorial on Board reports)
1988
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Box/Folder
1 / 7
Correspondence (citizen comments to Rio Algom Ltd.)
1988
Financial Records
Box/Folder
1 / 8-10
Budgetary correspondence
1985-1991
Hearings
Box/Folder
2 / 1
Transcripts (Kalispell hearing)
July 1985
2 / 2
Written testimony (Kalispell hearing)
July 1985
2 / 3
Written testimony and transcripts (Cranbrook, B.C. hearing)
Sept. 1988
Minutes
Box/Folder
2 / 4-7
Board meetings (includes semi-annual meetings held in conjunction with International Joint Commission) [Incomplete set]
1985-1988
Press Releases
Box/Folder
2 / 8
Announcements of hearings and meetings
1985-1988
Reports
Box/Folder
3 / 1
Draft (Canadian comments)
Feb. 1987
3 / 2-3
Draft (includes introduction and chapters on study area, current environment, the mine)
May 1987
3 / 4-6
Draft (also includes chapter on mine impact)
July-Oct. 1987
3 / 7-8
Draft (includes through chapter on mine impacts)
Dec. 1987
4 / 1-2
Draft (includes chapter on mine impacts)
Jan.-Mar. 1988
4 / 3-4
Draft (also includes chapters on summaries and recommendations)
Mar.-Apr. 1988
4 / 5-6
Draft (also includes references, glossary, and appendices)
July 1988
4 / 7
Draft
c. 1987
4 / 8
Draft (Comments on drafts from staff)
1985-1988
5 / 1
Progress reports
1985-1988
5 / 2
Published final report
Dec. 1988
5 / 3-4
Comments on "Special Designations" draft
1986-1988
5 / 5
Stage II application review (Montana comments)
1982-1983
5 / 6-7
Stage II application review (British Columbia comments)
1982-1985
5 / 8
Stage II application review (Sage Creek Coal comments)
1982-1983
5 / 9
Summaries and conclusions draft
May-June 1988
6 / 1-2
Supplementary reports
June-July 1988
Subject Files
Box/Folder
6 / 3
Background on U.S.-Canada water quality issues
1982-1989
Miscellany
Box/Folder
6 / 4
Bibliography on Flathead River Basin
Jan. 1986
6 / 5
Mailing lists
1985-1988
6 / 6
Organizational history
1984-1985
6 / 7
Style manual for Board reports
1986
6 / 8
Flathead Lakers, Inc. mtg. agenda
July 1988
Printed Materials
Box/Folder
6 / 9
Pamphlets, newsletters
1976-1986
Clippings
Box/Folder
6 / 10
Newspaper and periodical coverage of Cabin Creek controversy
1984-1988

Biological Resources Committee Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Correspondence
Box/Folder
7 / 1-4
General correspondence
1985-1988
Minutes
Box/Folder
7 / 5
Spokane, Kalispell, Vancouver meetings
1985-1986
Reports
Box/Folder
8 / 1
Draft: Phase I
Dec. 1985
8 / 2
Draft: Phase II
Sept. 1986
8 / 3-7
Draft: Committee report
Jan.-Sept. 1987

Limnology Task Force Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Correspondence
Box/Folder
9 / 1
General correspondence
1986
Reports
Box/Folder
9 / 2
Draft: Committee reports
Oct.-Dec. 1986

Mine Development Committee Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Correspondence
Box/Folder
9 / 3-6
General correspondence
1985-1988
9 / 7
Line Creek Mine settling pond failure (Crows Nest, B.C.)
May-Oct. 1986
Minutes
Box/Folder
9 / 8
March workshop
1986
Reports
Box/Folder
9 / 9
Draft: Committee report
Dec. 1985
9 / 10-11
Draft: Committee report
Apr. 1986
10 / 1-2
Draft: Committee report
Aug.-Dec. 1986

Water Quality and Quantity Committee Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Correspondence
Box/Folder
10 / 3-6
General correspondence
1985-1988
Minutes
Box/Folder
10 / 7
Seattle, Victoria, and Fernie, B.C. meetings
1985-1986
Reports
Box/Folder
11 / 1-3
Draft: Water quality criteria subcommittee
1986-1987
11 / 4-5
Draft: Committee report
1987
11 / 6
Final draft: Committee report
June 1987
11 / 7
Undated draft
n.d.

Water Uses Committee Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Correspondence
Box/Folder
12 / 1-5
General correspondence
1985-1988
Reports
Box/Folder
12 / 6
Draft: Executive summary
1985
12 / 7
Draft: Phase I (Current or Committed Socio-Economic Activities)
Dec. 1985
12 / 8
Draft: Phase II
1986
12 / 9-11
Draft: "Socio-Economic Activities..."
May 1986
12 / 12
Draft: "Water and Associated Socio-Economic Activities..."
Apr. 1987

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Water--Pollution--Montana.
  • Bull trout--Montana.
  • Coal mines and mining--Canada--British Columbia.

Geographical Names

  • Flathead Lake (Mont.)
  • Flathead River (B.C. and Mont.)
  • Glacier National Park (Mont.)