The Oath Keepers and other militia groups are celebrating a victory
after a conflict over surface rights for a mine in Montana was taken to
court. The militias were brought in to protect mine owners from federal
interference.
"We will continue to remain vigilant and on site and make sure what we achieved yesterday is upheld,"
spokesman for the militias Chris McIntire told AP on Wednesday, a day
after the US Forest Service sought a court ruling over the contested
rights.
The White Hope mine is located under the Helena National Forest near the town of Lincoln. The right for surface rights over the mine claim is contested between owners George Kornec and Phil Nappo and the Forestry Service.
The
mine owners say the surface is rightfully theirs, because the claim was
held before new rules took effect in 1955. The US government says that
Kornec failed to provide proper paperwork for the mine in 1986, which
led to it being registered as abandoned. The 1955 rules are thus now
applicable, which in turn means that the mining company has to provide a
detailed operational plan for the mine and that the surface over their
property is now public land.
Fearing that the authorities would demolish a garage built over the mine by force, Kornec and Nappo called in armed militias to protect it. Last week came the Oath Keepers, a group best known for their participation in last year’s standoff at Bandy Ranch and also showing up in Ferguson – both during the last year’s disturbances and this month for the anniversary protest.
Read more http://www.rt.com/usa/312329-oath-keepers-montana-mine/
The White Hope mine is located under the Helena National Forest near the town of Lincoln. The right for surface rights over the mine claim is contested between owners George Kornec and Phil Nappo and the Forestry Service.
Fearing that the authorities would demolish a garage built over the mine by force, Kornec and Nappo called in armed militias to protect it. Last week came the Oath Keepers, a group best known for their participation in last year’s standoff at Bandy Ranch and also showing up in Ferguson – both during the last year’s disturbances and this month for the anniversary protest.
Read more http://www.rt.com/usa/312329-oath-keepers-montana-mine/
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