DUST EVENT December 15, 2007 1 pm

More dust heading through Warm Springs and hanging over Deer Lodge.. Come on EPA, do your job.........

Reader Board now in service

Finishing touches where added to the new reader board at the Opportunity Community Club in Opportunity. The board is now ready for posting all news to the citizens of Opportunity..

Too Late for Opportunity?

On Monday, November 10, Pat Munday and a team of his students from his “Politics of Technical Decisions” class at Montana Tech, put A short, two-act play about the Arco-British Petroleum toxic waste repository near the town of Opportunity, Montana. Students played the Anaconda Company, ARCO-BP, the Environmental Protection Agency, Milltown, and Opportunity. Modeled on Augusto Boal’s “Theatre of the Oppressed,” each act was performed several times. After two repetitions of the second act, audience members where invited to participate by taking the place of an actor and redefining that actor’s role. Performances of the second act continued so audience members could all participate. They showed how the contaminated soil ended up in Milltown and how the EPA did nothing to stop the soils from being hauled to Opportunity.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved, it was truly fantastic. Great job folks...

Turkey Dinner

On November 18 2007, OCPA sponsored a free Turkey dinner for the people of Opportunity to thank them for their support. I am happy to announce that the dinner was a big success. We had lots of people show up for the dinner and collected donations to more then cover expenses. We had Turkey and all the trimmings to go with it. The folks who did the cooking deserve a big pat on the back for a delicous dinner. Thanks to everyone who helped with this successful dinner. I didn't get many pictures but here are the ones I did get.

Pictures from another citizen of Opportunity

These pictures where shot by Ron Nelson of Opportunity during the big dust event on Nov 13.

Damage in Anaconda wind storm on Nov 12 2007

These are photos I took in Anaconda during and after the big wind storm we had on Nov 12...

Dust Storm in Anaconda and Opportunity 10/12/07

So much for dust control. Maybe a little more polymer or some wet Mill
Town sediments might cure this problem. I am sure there is contaminated
soils throughout the entire valley from Anaconda to Missoula from this
nasty dust storm. Funny, everyone that works for the agencies and others
have said to call in the case of a dust storm but nobody could be
reached during this one..... Thanks ARCo and EPA for the wonderful gray
out we went through yesterday.. My lungs still hurt and I feel real
sorry for the people with breathing problems in the area.. My car got
sand blasted from all the black slag blowing from the pile across Mt 1.
Do I submit a bill to ARCo or EPA for a new paint job? I know what they
would say.. Just like our Governor told us, "Just think of the jobs".

EPA friend or foe?

In response to the article in yesterdays Montana Standard "Where to from here?"

What kind of Nonsense are you speaking Charlie Coleman? How much did you get paid to say these things? Of course there is going to be lots of wildlife in the ARCo pond area. The whole area is closed off to the public and there is grass growing there. This isn't rocket science. It has always been a place for wildlife. It is attracted to them because of the feed and privacy. The Berkley pit was attracted to over 300 Snow Geese and other water fowl too, because it was a large body of water and looked like a great place to rest.. Low and behold they rest in peace now. The animals will be eating tainted grass and drinking tainted water and for some reason I don't think this is healthy for the animal nor the unlucky hunter who shoots one of these animals and feeds it too their children. Hopefully some day a complaint won't come in that says one of Charlie Coleman's relatives, has struck an animal on Mt1 between Anaconda and Opportunity. I bet you wouldn't enjoy that complaint one bit. Numerous families have gone through this already since the property has been fenced and grass has been planted. This problem will only get worse, the more animals move into there, the more heart ache people will be going through because of collisions. .

Opportunity residents protested when the first shipment arrived last week? Where? Explain...
Would you live in Opportunity Charlie? Would you raise a family there? Would you complain if you DID live there?

Also, “We think as part of the capping process it’s going to be a good medium Coleman said.” WE THINK? Don't we know? or
We think this is a good remedy, and we think it’s going to be a very useful and vibrant place for the community to use and we’re looking forward to getting it done,” Scalley said. WE THINK? Don't we know?

There are a lot of unanswered questions here. What is going to happen to the tons of silt from Mill Town when they dry out and we get the big wind storms in December or January? The grass won't be growing there yet. Opportunity and Warm Springs eat poison dust AGAIN..
EPA, I am ashamed to say you work for our gov for the citizen. It surely doesn't look like it here.

Baby Whitetail

These pictures have nothing to do with OCPA but I thought they where cool and wanted to share..