Year of Award
2012
Document Type
Professional Paper
Degree Type
Master of Arts (MA)
Department or School/College
School of Journalism
Committee Chair
Jeremy Lurgio
Commitee Members
Michelle Bryan Mudd, Nadia White
Keywords
Cattle Ranching, Coal Mining, Eastern Montana, energy conflicts, longwall mining, Montana Coal, Roundup Montana
Abstract
In a community eager for economic development, one Montana ranching family struggles to cope with the onset of underground coal mining. For 40 years, the Charter family fought to prevent coal mining on their land in southern Musselshell County. In February, the federal government leased the remaining coal under their property to the mining company. As the Charters experience hardships and question their future quality of life, the nearby town of Roundup faces the decision to build a new school with potential tax dollars that hinge on the mine’s future productivity. Feeling misunderstood by nearby ranchers and the community, the mining company argues its case based on the science of modern-day mining. As the feud continues, the ranchers seek a potential lawsuit while the mine insists any environmental impacts will be restored. Now, only time will tell.
Recommended Citation
Radley, Kevin Patrick, "Battle of the Bulls: A Coal Conflict in Cattle Country" (2012). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 88.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/88
JOY Mining Contract
© Copyright 2012 Kevin Patrick Radley