FACT: Every major open pit, cyanide-leach mine in Montana has had leaks, spills or discharges of cyanide.

FACT: Canyon Resource's Kendall Mine, which operated from 1989-1995, contaminated neighboring ranchers' springs and streams. Six downstream families have filed suit against the company for impacts to private property.

FACT: The Beal Mountain Mine near Anaconda, which operated from 1988-1997, has contaminated groundwater and neighboring streams with cyanide and selenium. The State and U.S. Forest Service have spent $5 million of public funds to construct a water treatment system to try to address water pollution at the site.

Scientists have also determined that trout in water downstream of the mine are contaminated with harmful amounts of selenium caused by mining activities. Warren McCullough, who is responsible for enforcing state mine permit laws for Montana DEQ, told the Montana Standard in July 2003 that the aftermath of the closed Beal Mountain Mine is "not going to be something that we're ever going to be able to walk away from."

FACT: The Zortman-Landusky mine has contaminated ground and surface water with cyanide and acid mine drainage. In 1993, the State and the EPA filed suit against the company charging that its waste discharges "present human health risks" and that "the acidity of the discharges would kill fish and aquatic life." Water pollution is so severe that the State has determined that water treatment will be required in perpetuity.