Background

The project spans a 10,816-acre footprint across Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest (USFS) and BLM lands in Powell and Lewis and Clark Counties. Falcon Copper proposes up to 127 drill pads, up to 5 drill rigs operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and approximately 41 miles of road use — including 2.87 miles of new road construction. Operations are proposed to begin in 2027 and run through 2032. 

The Blue Copper Project, proposed by Falcon Copper Corporation, is a large-scale copper, gold, silver, and tungsten exploration operation on federal public lands approximately 20 miles west of Helena, Montana. The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was published on June 2 opening a public comment period that closes July 2.  

The project sits entirely within the Little Blackfoot River watershed, with operations affecting Ophir Creek, Carpenter Creek, and Snowshoe Creek. Two of these streams (Snowshoe Creek and Carpenter Creek) are already on Montana’s CWA Section 303(d) list of impaired waters, with existing TMDLs for sedimentation, nutrient loading, substrate alteration, and habitat loss. The project proposes four stream crossings, 21+ drill pads within riparian buffer zones, and water extraction of up to 24,000 gallons per day from these already-stressed, impaired systems. 

Latest Update: June 15, 2026

We requested an extension of the public comment period to give CFC, our partners and the public more time to evaluate the EA and the proposed impacts of this large-scale exploration project. 

The US Forest Service is currently accepting online public comments on this project through July 2^nd.

Suggested Talking Points

• The Blue Copper Project would impact thousands of acres of public lands, construct new roads, harm sensitive species and contribute pollution to several imperiled waterways. A project of this scale on public property deserves more than a 30-day public comment period. The Forest Service should slow down, allow additional time for public review and hold at least one public meeting on this project.
• Federal law requires the Forest Service to take a “hard look” at the environmental consequences of a proposed action; it also requires meaningful public participation in the review process. Unless the governing agency determines that a project will have no significant environmental impact, it must prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Blue Copper Project involves mining exploration over a 10,000-acre footprint of public lands that host sensitive waterways and imperiled wildlife. This project deserves an EIS.
• Mining exploration would pull up to 24,000 gallons per day from Snowshoe Creek and Ophir Creek, two important tributaries to the Little Blackfoot River. The Draft EA fails to offer any details on where this water would be sourced and whether the underlying water rights are sufficient to meet these needs without injuring other water users.
• The project would authorize new stream crossings as well as drilling activities within sensitive riparian areas. The project area includes multiple streams that are already listed as impaired for sediment, nutrients and habitat loss. Federal agencies must manage for or improve water quality on these impaired streams. The Draft EA fails to explain how extensive drilling and road crossings can take place without further degrading these stream systems.
• The Draft EA acknowledges that many of the proposed drilling sites will intercept groundwater but fails to fully analyze whether this groundwater interception will harm water quality.