Montana Tunnels faces big hurdle

Nine months after filing for bankruptcy started the timer on Montana Tunnels’ race to reorganize, the company is still working to overcome its largest hurdle: the reclamation bond held by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

“I think the DEQ is the big hurdle that Montana Tunnels has to clear,” attorney for the mine Andy Patten said during a Tuesday, Aug. 29 hearing on the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.

The goal of the hearing, according to U.S. District Court of Montana Judge Benjamin Hersch, was to assess where friction existed in the case and decide how best to proceed. The hearing was also meant to discuss Montana Tunnels’ previously filed amended Plan of Reorganization and disclosure statement.