In a stunning reversal that ignored the will of the majority for the opinion of a small minority, the Carbon County Commissioners today withdrew their motion to accept the petitions to form the Silvertip Zone.
The Commissioners had voted on December 15 to move forward on the zone because it is “in the public interest and convenience for public health, safety and welfare, and for the public infrastructure.”
The petitioners represented 68% of the landowners in the district, well above the 60% required to form a citizen initiated zone. According to a Carbon County official, the Commissioners received protests from six landowners in the area to be covered by the zone.
The Commissioners cited the protests as a reason for withdrawing their motion.
The agenda item was short, with little opportunity for public comment.
More to come. I’ll post the video as soon as I have it.
The illegal taking of water at site of Belfy well last June.
Preserve the Beartooth Front 
You ain’t seen nothing yet! This is the exact same thing that happened to us when we tried to defend our properties! You have no rights as a property owner on Montana! Big business has always been able to do whatever they want yo here. Nothing will ever change! Bob Hilten
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That is horrible news
Sue Moses
Thanks, David, for keeping us informed. This is terrible news, but, somehow not surprising.
I thought commissioners were to represent the people, the majority. The commissioners have no backbone and no sense of public responsibility. Might as well be on ECA’s payroll. disgusted.
All this is familiar to those of us living in the Marcellus. Lawless driller have to be forced to abide by the law. We had a water truck push a car through the intersection in Weston, WV, back up and drive by, and the driver claimed he didn’t see the car, which was accepted by the police! Officials are wholly owned by the companies, from state down to the local level. Same business plan everywhere.
This is disgusting. Oil and gas power mongers never let up. Property owners lose and oil folks who live far away get rich. Ugh.
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