Montana Tunnels’ long and rocky road toward oblivion continues.
Questions linger about reclamation of the long-inactive mine.
On July 17, a federal bankruptcy judge dismissed Montana Tunnel Mining’s case under which the open-pit mine was attempting to reorganize financially under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Judge Benjamin Hursh also rejected an option that would have converted the case to Chapter 7 bankruptcy, allowing liquidation of assets.
Among other things, Hursh ruled, “In this Chapter 11 bankruptcy, [Montana Tunnels Mining] failed to make payments required under the confirmed plan.”
An aerial view from 2018 of the Montana Tunnels pit. The mine has not operated since 2008.
The company had filed for Chapter 11 protection in December 2022 after failing to make timely bond payments to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
