Group Opposes Proposed Pipeline
On the urging of Montana Democratic Party treasurer Lance FourStar, the Wolf Point Community Organization approved a resolution on June 15 to express their opposition against the proposed Bridger pipeline.
The pipeline is proposed to impact nine counties in Montana and transport about 550,000 barrels of Canadian oil daily. The preferred route stretches from north of Malta, run above the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and then head south along the Montana- North Dakota border until ending in Guernsey, Wyo.
The resolution was passed nearly unanimously by WPCO members with only one audience member voting against the motion.
FourStar, a resident of Wolf Point, said he will bring the motion up during a state policy meeting for Montana’s Democratic party.
His proposal reads, “We oppose the expansion, construction, and operation of hazardous crude oil and tar sands pipelines in Montana, specifically including the Bridger pipeline network, to protect our state’s water infrastructure, agricultural lands and tribal sovereign resources from ecological degradation.”
The policy’s language notes that WPCO opposes the construction and continued operation of the Bridger pipeline system and calls for rigorous regulatory scrutiny and enforcement regarding fossil fuel transport infrastructure across state boundaries. During the meeting, WPCO also approved a resolution that it advocates for wolf management policies guided strictly by state wildlife biologists, opposes aggressive hunting and trapping regulations intended to severely deplete species populations and supports the implementation of robust, state-funded non-lethal deterrent strategies to prevent livestock conflicts.
Both of FourStar’s proposals passed at the Montana Democratic Party’s platform convention during the weekend.
