About the Good Neighbor Agreement

The Good Neighbor Agreement is a precedent-setting, legally binding contract between the largest mineral developer in the state of Montana, Stillwater Mining Company, the Northern Plains Resource Council (a grassroots family farm and conservation organization), and Northern Plains' two local affiliate groups in Stillwater and Sweet Grass Counties, Montana. The Agreement is a partnership between the local communities and the mining company that raises the bar for environmental peformance well above state and federal requirements and gives local citizens a say in the decisions regaring the mine that affect their lives.

CRC is Northern Plains' affiliate group in Sweet Grass County, and CRC members have been instrumental in negotiating and maintaining the Agreement since it was signed in May 2000.  This past June, members and Stillwater Mine officials agreed to a renogotiated Agreement, which marks the 5th anniversary of this impressive contract. 

• Read a briefing of the 5th year anniverasry Good Neighbor Agreement ammendments
• Read our citizens brochure explaining the agreement.
  
• Download a complete copy of the Agreement from the Northern Plains Resource Council website.
  
• Check out the community calendar for upcoming citizen water sampling events.
  
• Find out more about the East Boulder Oversight Committee.
  

Good Neighbor Agreement Accomplishments

• Safer roads, through a comprehensive busing, carpooling and commercial traffic-reduction plan
• Citizen access to critical information, through a completed audited both the Nye and East Boulder Mine sites for compliance with clean water and air laws, independent reviews of reclamation plans and performance bonds, and open-door policy between the mine and the community
• Better protections for clean air and clean water, through a baseline water quality study and strict water pollution limits for the East Boulder and Stillwater rivers
• Protection for open space, private property values and rural quality of life, by donating over 2,220 acres conservation easements in Sweet Grass and Stillwater counties
     
  Formation of the grassroots Boulder River Watershed Association to find local solutions to water quality problems
• Pilot testing and field study of innovative new technologies to address mine waste tailings, hopefully reducing the need for and size of future large mine waste impoundments
• A volunteer, citizen-based water sampling system to monitor the quality of the East Boulder and Stillwater watersheds