Author: Evelyn Pyburn

US Does Have Rare Earths

18 March 2025
Evelyn Pyburn
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That rare earth minerals are being found in the United States, which has to import most of its rare earth minerals from China, is exciting news. As reports begin to emerge about rare earth minerals discoveries in the US – such as that in Ravalli County, Montana – a question emerges about why the discoveries are coming only now.

For example, a report from Wyoming in Cowboy State Daily has announced that “The US could soon become a world leader in rare earth minerals after over two billion metric tons were found in Wyoming. The discovery could mean America over taking China, whose supplies stand at 44 million metric tons.”

Rare earth elements are a group of 17 elements that are essential for both domestic and for military technology.  They are used in the production of medical equipment, clean energy components, electric vehicles, electronics, and more. Demand for them is expected to explode in the near future. The US imports most of its needs for rare earths from China. Demand for the metals is expected to soar up to seven times current levels by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency.

Over the decades there was only one rare earth minerals mine, Mountain Pass in California, in the US and it was owned by the Chinese. How that came to be was a matter of little foresight and over regulation in the United States.

In a six-year report from Defense News, the lack of interest in pursuing more development in the US was made more clear.

Mountain Pass was opened as a uranium deposit, but came to supply rare earths for the electronic needs of the “Cold War economy.” Until the 1990s, it stood alone as the only major source of rare earths worldwide.

By 2002, the mine became defunct, because to the U.S. government and major manufacturers, it no longer made sense to acquire rare earths from a U.S. source that was subject to stringent environmental regulations. It made more sense to import the minerals needed from other countries.

China was happy to oblige.

In 2008, a group of investors formed Molycorp to reopen the Mountain Pass mine, with the intent of delivering a secure supply chain, but their plans failed and eventually the mine was purchased out of bankruptcy by a consortium that included a Chinese-owned firm.

The article stated, “Reducing red tape and bureaucratic inertia will lower costs and reduce risk — there is no reason that permitting a mine in the United States should take five times longer than it does in Canada or Australia.”

Since the prospects look brighter at the moment for development of rare earth mineral mines, with development of better technologies, more rational regulations and a profound interest from the US military and domestic markets, suddenly there emerges news that rare earth mining might indeed be possible in the US.

Just a couple weeks ago US Critical Materials announced that their find in a 50-year old abandoned mine at Sheep Creek in Ravalli County, Montana holds the highest reported grades of any known deposit in the United States, according to an independent analysis from Activation Labs. Besides having the highest reported grades of any known deposit in the United States, said Activation Labs, the mine has the highest concentrations of gallium—a material essential to national security.

Near Wheatland, Wyoming comes another announcement from American Rare Earths Inc. They claim that they may have “hit the mother load”, dwarfing another find in northeastern Wyoming, which was claimed to be “one of the biggest discoveries in the world.” American Rare Earths is the U.S.-based unit of an Australian-founded exploration company working in Wyoming.

Mining.com has ranked the Halleck Creek rare earths find as the fifth largest in the world outside of others discovered in Greenland, Canada and Kenya.

American Rare Earths wants to mine and process these metals – particularly neodymium and praseodymium – through its Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc. unit, which controls 367 mining claims on 6,320 acres of a mix of state, federal and private land across the Halleck Creek Project area near Wheatland, and four Wyoming mineral leases on  1,844 acres on the same project.

Worldwide rare earth mineral demand stands at about 60,000 tons annually. A metric ton equals about 2,200 pounds while a ton is 2,000 pounds.

Latest drilling revealed that the ore is more extensive and of higher quality, making it potentially even more valuable than anything else in the state,

The company said it could move more quickly to establish a mining operation on 320 acres of state land where permitting would happen at a faster clip than on federally owned land.

Also, in Wyoming, Rare Element Resources Ltd., a Canadian exploration company, is setting up shop on a large rare earth deposit in Upton, Wyoming, with a novel new mining process that promises to speed up rare earth processing. This is called the Bear Lodge Project. 

The Wyoming unit of Rare Element Resources, which controls 100% of the Bear Lodge mineral rights held through federal mining claims in Upton, is betting $44 million that its mining process is a game-changer for U.S. rare earth production. 

And still more — Ramaco Resources revealed it had found a deposit of rare minerals near Sheridan in Wyoming, that could have a value of $37 billion. The company said, “We only tested it for 100, 200 feet, which is about the maximum you’d ever want to do a conventional coal mine.”

Besides these finds of rare earth minerals, geologists are reporting that there are millions of tons rare earth minerals to be found in coal ash, the chalky remnants of coal that has been burned for fuel from by power plants. There are piles and piles of coal ash, long considered a waste by-product, across the US.

The new research found that there could be as much as 11 million tons – worth $8.4 billion — of rare earth elements in accessible coal ash in the United States, which is nearly eight times the amount that the U.S. currently has in domestic reserves.

Even though the level of rare earth elements in coal ash is relatively low when compared with those mined from geological deposits, the fact that the ash is readily available in large quantities makes it an attractive resource, said co-author Davin Bagdonas, a research scientist at the University of Wyoming.

Not only have ventures to retrieve the rare earth minerals been reported in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Texas, but there has been talk that in Colstrip, Montana, too, the possibility will be explored.

State’s First Arraignment Court Now in Session

18 March 2025
Evelyn Pyburn
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By Evelyn Pyburn

Yellowstone County has a new addition to its judicial system – -a new court that focuses upon arraignments. It is being operated in the county department of Justices of the Peace. Judge Jeanne Walker and Judge David Carter have been presiding over the court for about a month.

Creating an arraignment court is part of improving and making more efficient the process of adjudicating criminals, which is a necessity in making the new short-term detention facility functional, according to Justice of the Peace Carter, who has spent the past year or more leading the process of developing and establishing the court.

The short-term detention facility is a city-county project in the process of being built next to the Yellowstone County Detention Facility, which is expected to be completed late this fall. It is viewed as a solution to the over-crowded jail that serves Yellowstone County. It will enable law enforcement to arrest and hold those perpetrating offenses who, in the past, law enforcement has not been able to arrest because of having no place to hold them

The concept of an arraignment court – this will be the first one in Montana – emerged from Yellowstone County’s  10-person committee that was appointed two years ago to look at the entire justice system and the new jail proposal for the county and City of Billings, to develop a more efficient and economical system. An arraignment court was viewed as essential to the process of making the short -term detention facility function well.

So far arraignment court has gone well, said Carter. They have focused on working out the wrinkles. “There will probably be changes,” said Carter, but so far it’s been pretty smooth. “We are building something,” he said, “Until you start doing it you are not quite sure how it will work.”

Arraignment court will be held at 2:30 pm every day, Monday through Friday.

An arraignment is usually a felony or misdemeanor defendant’s first court appearance after arrest. During the arraignment, a defendant is formally advised of the criminal charges against him, informed of their rights, and asked to enter a plea to the charges, and often a public defender is appointed. The court also looks at the defendant’s history, and decides whether the defendant will be released pending trial, whether they must wear an ankle bracelet and bond is set.

A public defender stands with the defendant during the process to explain and advise about the proceedings.

The judge goes through a process of sorting out the charges against a defendant in accordance with state laws or local ordinances, looking at their criminal record and determining, if there are other outstanding charges, misdemeanors or felons.

Most of the time a defendant has other outstanding charges against them, perhaps in more than one court, explained Judge Carter. During arraignment court the judge gives them a schedule of not only their next court appearance on the current charge, but also other pending court appearances and dates at which they are required to appear.

According to Judge Carter, missing court dates is the most common infraction for which other charges are often made. “It gets to be a revolving door,” he said, underscoring that their goal is “to get the people who don’t need to be in jail out, or to make sure they are in jail for the right period of time – – and to do that correctly — more efficiently and elegantly and timely.” Court hearing dates can be complicated, he said, and overwhelming for people who sometimes have many other unfortunate things happening in their lives.

Currently, the defendants appear in arraignment court via video from the Yellowstone County Detention Facility (YCDF), with the court room located in the County Courthouse. Asked if that will continue to be the model, Judge Carter said it is not considered best practices. Ideally, he believes, arraignment court should be held at the YCDF.

Whether that will be included for the plans of a new addition to the YCDF, he isn’t sure. The county has to authorize that, he said, adding, “There has been discussions, and support expressed. But there is no room currently.”

The process of being prepared for their first court appearance is far more complicated than it might appear. It takes a staff of knowledgeable and trained people to prepare the case – to gather all the documents pertaining to other outstanding charges and their status, and to check on the defendant’s record, family and criminal record. The first half of the day on court days is spent by staff preparing all the necessary information and documentation for the judge. Some are on the job at 6 a.m.

Starting an arraignment court required the hiring of 1.5 FTEs (employees) said Carter, pointing out however that much of the work involved is being absorbed into by the existing Justice Court staff. While $45,000 has been set aside in the budget for the arraignment court, it is just there in case they discover a need for it.

Right now there are five people in Justice Court dedicated to pre- trial services. “It is more expansive than just arraignment court,” explained Judge Carter. “We have other programs for pre- trial services.” Four of the five staff members have been trained for arraignment court, but they also have secondary duties. “It is very hard,” said Judge Carter, “But we are building on that and will evolve.”

In the long term – which essentially means when most of the county’s administration offices move into the county’s new administration building, and the Courthouse has been remodeled as exclusively a court house – Justice Court anticipates requesting another Justice of the Peace. An additional Justice of the Peace would be welcomed, said Judge Carter.

The challenges before Yellowstone County’s judicial system are significant and so will be the challenges to the arraignment court which will not only be serving a justice court with the largest case load in the state, but also a district court with the largest case load in the state, and a city with the largest municipal court case load in the state. They haven’t taken on the arraignments for the city municipal court yet because that court is quite literally in the process of moving to the new city hall.

The arraignment court expects to assume their case load in May.

Amazon Opens Delivery Station

18 March 2025
Evelyn Pyburn
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Local city and county officials, state legislators and other local dignitaries turned out in full force in Billings last week to celebrate the opening of Amazon’s new $23 million delivery station at 6767 Tun Tavern Road. The 40,000 square foot facility is Amazon’s second location in Montana marking a total investment of $110 million in the state. The distribution network will serve over 1000 local sellers in the region and means faster delivery for all. In his welcoming remarks, County Commissioner Mark Morse noted that the city, Big Sky Economic Development and the county partnered in the development of infrastructure that facilitated the new addition to Billings. He also pointed out that Amazon’s investment in the community will garner over $48.6 million in economic impact.

In Seeking Fun, Billings Couple Founded Montana Wake

18 March 2025
Evelyn Pyburn
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By Evelyn Pyburn

Starting a boat business in Montana may not seem like an inherently good idea at first glance, but then maybe you aren’t as passionate about water sports as are Nate and Lindsey Romain, and maybe you haven’t recognized that there is generally a lack of sales and service support in Montana for such enthusiasts.

Those two life experiences eventually prompted Nate and Lindsey to take the plunge and start their own business in Billings in 2023, called Montana Wake Co. They opened in a 3000 sq. ft. building with one employee.

So far it is proving to have been a good move.

In 2024 they serviced over 400 customers and sold over 70 boats and were being asked to deliver and service many more. “The shop was packed to the gills” said Nate, and they had 15 boats in storage and 8 at his home.

The key to their rapid success believes Nate, is their focus on customers. “We listen to the public,” he said, explaining that many boating enthusiasts have had the same experience he did in finding it hard to get the guidance and support needed. After buying his first boat, Nate said, the closest support business was in Kalispell.

 Filling that niche has brought customers to the door of Montana Wake very quickly.

In trying to find a new location, the Romains encountered an offer for a building that had previously served a steel business at 7510 Entry Way Drive. The location offered a warehouse much bigger than the Romains had initially considered necessary. At first the building seemed to be “just a pipedream,” but as they looked at it and pondered its potential, Nate said, they began to realize, that even though it was bigger than anticipated, “if we didn’t get it, it would only be a matter of months and we would have to move again.”

So they bit the bullet and forged ahead. With a crew of helpers they worked for three, 20-hour days, getting it into shape. One exciting aspect of the huge building is that they can keep all their boats – new and used – inside, making it easy for customers to inspect them and ponder their choices without having to “brush the snow off,” said Nate. They opened in their new location in October 2024.

“As we moved into the building, we knew we were going to have to really step up our game to make it work,” said Nate – and that they have.

Just a couple months ago, at the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas in Orlando, Florida – the largest marine dealer group in the world — the Romains were recognized with three awards from Centurion, including “Rookie of the Year.”

Centurion (what Nate calls the “Bentley of boats”), is one of several lines of boats Montana Wake carries. Others include Supreme, Bennington and Balise Pontoons. Montanans, said Nate, really enjoy pontoons. For those who are novices about boats, a “wake” boat is one that is used for water sports, such as for water skiing. While there are a few other businesses in the area that sell boats, they mostly focus on boats designed for fishing.

Because Montana Wake focuses so much on support and service for their customers, Nate said that in a sense, they don’t have much competition. It was after all, that lack of such support and service that inspired the Romains to start their business.

Nate’s love of water sports began at a very young age. Although he lived on a ranch between Chester and Fort Benton, he was able to spend summers with his grandparents who lived on Flathead Lake.  That’s where he learned to love everything that had to do with water.

“I didn’t want to do anything else,” said Nate.

When circumstances required that they move to Billings, he missed summers on the Flathead, but then discovered Yellowtail Dam and Big Horn Lake and fell in love all over again.

Nate went to work in the oil business and saved up quickly to buy his first boat. Lindsey played a role in that experience, even though they weren’t married yet, but they had discovered they had a mutual passion for water sports.

They soon married and spent all the time they could on the water – exploring other lakes in Montana. Montana’s lakes are scattered but they are often close enough that it’s possible to spend a day on the water and still be home for the evening, pointed out Nate.

The Romains now have a son and a daughter, ages 11 and 7, and all their family time is spent on a lake. “They love the water as much as we do,” said Nate.

In order to pursue their sport, Nate became self- taught, acquiring and using his own equipment. He helped out friends, and he and Lindsay have forged many friendships and relationships, introducing others to the joys of water sports. That grew even more so when they started a Facebook page, which  was really the beginning of Montana Wake.

The Romains designed a logo and began selling apparel for boating with the logo (all of it made in Billings). It became very popular, said Nate.  They were getting orders from all over the world, such as Africa and Australia. People liked the “Montana stamp on it, and wanted to support us.”

Nate’s reputation for knowledge and expertise about boating began to spread, and he was frequently called upon by people seeking advice or needing help. The Romains would often take people out on excursions, introducing them to water sports and to Montana lakes. There are actually more lake options around the Billings area than people commonly realize. Yellowtail , Houser,  Coney,  Deadman’s Basin, Canyon Ferry and even Flathead Lake. There’s no need to spend lots of money on extended vacations, points out Nate, there is plenty of places to go not too far down the road.

For the Romains it was still all about “just wanting  to get people out to enjoy all the beauty of Montana.”   Encouraging them to start a business were requests for demonstrations and charters. “The business started picking up from there.” The fact that Nate found himself often referring people to dealerships was also a signal that here was a business opportunity.

Another, instance of encouragement was when he was approached by a local boat dealership who asked him for assistance. He started subcontracting his services, and was soon working full time as a salesman for the business.  But as a salesman, “I wasn’t able to deliver the full experience to the customer, as I wished I could,” he said.

Starting the business was a challenge. Nate said they learned a lot very quickly about dealerships, licensing, insurance, zoning, getting financial backing and floor financing.  “We were running into issue after issue.” At times “they were so overwhelming, we thought it was the end of it.” 

“But what really kept us going was the public support. That is what drove us and kept us moving forward.”

Currently, the Romains employ 13 people, which include a nephew and his wife who moved to Billings from Michigan – so Montana Wake is truly a family business.

“We are getting employees who love to solve problems,” said Nate, about his staff.

As they have expanded, drawing more interest from adventurists seeking new experiences, they have acquired rental properties on lakes, which allow them to offer get-away packages for their customers.

In all that they find themselves doing, the Romains declare, “We are taking the pain out of having fun.”

Just saying….

18 March 2025
Evelyn Pyburn
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By Evelyn Pyburn

It must be said.  People losing jobs — as many federal government employees are– is a difficult and very bad turn of events for the individuals involved — no matter who you are or for what entity you were working.  It is not a new kind of malady. OK, maybe it is for government, but it isn’t for the private sector.

For all the wringing of hands, crying and lamenting on media about the layoffs of thousands of government workers – not to mention law suits being filed in declaring that their employer has no right to fire them – one has to be amazed at the incredible angst that so many are exhibiting. Where was that concern —  all those tears and media blitzes — during and after COVID when millions of people lost their jobs and even lost thriving businesses because of government coerced layoffs and the inhibition of people’s freedom to even leave their homes? Bureaucrats were actually the ones enforcing the dictatorial decrees with an arrogance of righteousness that often comes with unchecked power.

(Nonfarm payroll employment in the United States declined by 9.4 million in 2020).

“We need more compassion,” said one talking head this weekend. Really? I never heard anyone say that during all the COVID mandates.

Where? Where? Where was all this outrage, whining, indignation and compassion then? If you objected at that time you were considered criminal, and an adversarial spreader of misinformation and bureaucrats did all in their power to block citizen access to social media and free speech.

I recall most distinctly at the very beginning, in listening to the mandates that everyone not go to work, and that employers  close their businesses, the very obvious lack of concern about what that was doing to people –-  impacts that are still being felt today by many people. It was shocking. As I listened to the decree, I immediately thought of people like single mothers waiting tables to support their children, or of families working hard to meet monthly mortgage payments. Just one week of no income would be devastating to them.

When I asked a question about such impacts of the COVID official, resplendent in the glory of being able to exercise his new found power, he had the stunned, blank look on his face of someone who had never even thought of such a plight. He had no answer.

There was minimal concern expressed in national media about all the unemployed people. There were no demonstrations or any aspect of concern from bureaucrats anywhere. In fact many of them were enthusiastic participants as they went into businesses to shut them down, with threats of arrest to workers and customers.

Bureaucrats, of course, had guaranteed incomes, no matter what. For them it was little more than a paid vacation.

Kind of a different response we are seeing now from government and other collectivists, don’t you think?

It is now rather surreal to see government factions concerned about being unemployed and declaring it to be unjust, and wanting the world to be concerned about their plight.

At a later point in time, the COVID official, who never even thought about how eliminating jobs for so many people would really hurt them, was heralded by some factions in the community as a noble, valiant  and dauntless leader. If that was who he was, so most certainly is President Trump and his noble, valiant and dauntless volunteer, Elon Musk.

President Trump is doing exactly what so many leaders over the past five decades or more have promised to do and never did – cut the size and power of government. That he is doing it so quickly and relentlessly is probably the only way it can be done, which is probably why no one was ever successful in doing it in the past. Part of the reason for the lamenting and crying of those in opposition is because President Trump is giving them no time to develop strategies to oppose the cuts and layoffs.

That there are people who are being negatively impacted through no fault of their own, there is no doubt and one can certainly feel sorry for them, but welcome to the real world. Fortunately there is one good thing that is sure to come to the rescue of all the workers now flooding the labor market – the US private sector has more jobs than workers and it is a situation that is expected to continue for the next 15 years. You have more options than did the workers and businesses during COVID.

NWE Plans New Transmission Line to Meet Growth Needs 

18 March 2025
Evelyn Pyburn
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by Evelyn Pyburn

NorthWestern Energy has announced plans to build an additional 230 kV transmission line that will serve customers in Yellowstone County and the region that will provide “critical” additional electric transmission capacity.

The 21-mile long line – expected to cost between $25 million and $30 million – will run from NorthWestern Energy’s existing Shorey Road substation and head northwest, ending at NorthWestern Energy’s existing Broadview substation. The project includes upgrades to the Broadview Substation and Shorey Road Substation, both North of the Billings Area with construction anticipated in 2027 and 2028.

Project siting and right-of-way acquisition is intended to begin in 2025 and construction of the new electric transmission line anticipated in 2027, to be completed within the next 3 years.

The line will be subject to the Montana Major Facilities Siting Act, which requires NorthWestern to file a public notice in area newspapers and with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality describing the project details and approach prior to easement acquisition.

The line will “ensure “continued safe reliable electric service is provided to support growing electric load and Billings area economy,” according to Jo Dee Black, NorthWestern’s Public Relations Specialist, who added it is a “top priority to provide critical additional capacity to the electric grid that serves the region. Black explained, “The project will provide important new capacity and reliability improvements to NorthWestern’s transmission system . .  . NorthWestern has seen significant residential and commercial demand growth in the Billings areas and expects that trend to continue.”

The new 230 kV line will consist of a combination of two-pole “H-Frame” steel structures and single pole steel structures, depending on terrain and engineering requirements, with potential pole heights from 70 feet to 120 feet. The news 230 kV line will be similar in appearance and design to other area transmission lines.

Montana Women’s Run Unveils Shirt Design

18 March 2025
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Registration Now Open for 2025 Race

For over four decades, thousands of participants have filled the streets of downtown Billings, wearing the uniquely designed Montana Women’s Run T-shirt. On May 10, 2025, walkers and runners will again take to the streets in the event’s signature pink shirt, featuring a vibrant design that symbolizes growth, transformation, and community.

The Montana Women’s Run artwork for the 2025 event shirt is a celebration of springtime renewal and personal achievement. At its center, a sprouting seed, opening leaves, and a blossoming flower represent growth and wellness, while radiating sun rays evoke optimism and energy. Surrounding elements—flower blossoms, a bumblebee, a butterfly, and multicolored dots—capture the spirit of activity, perseverance, and transformation. The Bitterroot flower shape reinforces the Montana Women’s Run brand, while the circular composition symbolizes wholeness and unity.

Registration is now open for the 44th annual Montana Women’s Run. As always the Run is on the day before Mother’s Day, Saturday, May 10, starting at 8 a.m. in downtown Billings. Proceeds from the event benefit charitable organizations in Billings that contribute to women’s and children’s health and wellness.

To register for any of the events, visit www.womensrun.org.

For announcements, updates and discussion about the many Women’s Run events, visit the Montana Women’s Run Facebook page or the Montana Women’s Run website.

The Montana Women’s Run began in 1982 with just 200 registrants and celebrated last year with over 5,600 women participating, including virtually, from around the world. Today, the race is recognized as the largest running event for women in the state of Montana, and one of the largest all-women’s races in the country. To date, the Montana Women’s Run has donated more than $1,827,500 to local organizations that promote women’s and children’s health and fitness.

The major sponsors of the 2025 Montana Women’s Run are AVA Law Group, Billings Clinic, Par Montana, First Interstate Bank, Graphic Imprints, The Planet 106.7, and KTVQ.

BSEDA Announces New Executive Director

18 March 2025
Evelyn Pyburn
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Big Sky Economic Development (BSED) announced that Paul Green has been selected as the organization’s next Executive Director. Green has resigned his position as Director of the Montana Department of Commerce in order to accept the position. Green was appointed as Commerce director in January 2024.

BSED conducted a national search to replace retiring BSED Executive Director, Steve Arveschoug. Arveschoug will continue leading the organization through mid-April, to ensure a smooth transition. A start date for Green has not been determined; additional details will be announced as they become available.

The search for Arveschoug’s replacement was conducted by Jorgenson Pace, a search committee led by BSED Board Members and Montana State University Billings Chancellor Stefani Hicswa, along with other BSED board members and stakeholders.

Green brings extensive experience in economic and community development, project management, and public-private partnerships. As Director of the Montana Department of Commerce Green oversaw multiple divisions focused on business attraction, infrastructure development, tourism, housing, and economic growth. Throughout his career, he has led initiatives that drive job creation, streamline regulations, and enhance stakeholder engagement. His leadership spans roles in both public and private sectors, including serving as Executive Director of the Montana Business Incubator and Two Rivers Economic Development Authority, where he successfully implemented strategic growth initiatives, secured major infrastructure investments, and worked with business and government leaders to foster economic resilience.

“Our selection committee worked hard to find an Executive Director who can lead our organization into the future,” said Nick Pancheau, EDC Board Chair, “As one of the leading Economic Development Organizations in the state with a talented team, it was important to select a candidate that both understands our local economy, and one who is ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work on day one. We believe we have found those attributes in Paul Green and we look forward to his leadership.”

“I am very pleased that the results of our national search resulted in an outstanding pool of highly qualified applicants,” said Chancellor Stefani Hicswa, “Paul will serve us well as our new Executive Director. I appreciate the hard work of the search committee and the excellent feedback from staff and stakeholders.”

Debbie Desjarlais, BSED EDA Board Chair, commented, “I’m pleased with the outcome of the search. The search committee, along with Jorgenson Pace, has worked long and hard on this search. I believe Paul Green is the right person at this time for BSED. Congratulations, Paul. We have the greatest confidence in the world of future success. Not just for the organization, but for the city of Billings.”

Governor Greg Gianforte has appointed Deputy Director Mandy Rambo as acting leader of the Department of Commerce. 

Rare Earth Minerals Add to Montana’s Treasures

27 February 2025
Evelyn Pyburn
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By Evelyn Pyburn

Sophisticated- analytical testing results from a rare earths mineral deposit in southwestern Montana are nothing less than “transformational from a United States government and world perspective,” stated a very enthusiastic Harvey Kaye, adding that the technology that the mineral exploration and technology development company, US Critical Materials, is developing in collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) can be just as transformational to the industry.

US Critical Materials, a Nevada -based company with corporate headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, announced almost three years ago their discovery of high grade rare earth minerals at Sheep Creek near Darby, Montana. Even then, company representatives were quite excited about what they suspected to be the superlative quality of their find, which has since been independently confirmed.

Results from Activation Labs (actlabs.com), an independent geochemical and geo-metallurgical analysis lab,  confirm that Sheep Creek holds the highest reported grades of any known deposit in the United States, along with the highest concentrations of gallium—a material essential to national security. “The US Critical Materials deposit in Montana has sufficient rare earths and gallium to provide the world with the critical elements it needs to help meet demand well into the future,” stated Harvey Kaye.

Kaye and Ed Cowle, both directors of US Critical Materials, announced the company’s recent exciting developments in an interview with the Big Sky Business Journal.

US Critical Materials mineral claims in Ravalli County, Montana cover approximately 10 square miles. The initial 800-acre site contains over 60 carbonatite formations, which have the potential of holding more rare earth minerals at depth, underscoring Sheep Creek’s vast potential.

With grades approaching 9% (89,932 ppm) and combined neodymium and praseodymium concentrations of 2.4% (23,810 ppm), Jim Hedrick, President of US Critical Materials, and the former Rare Earth Commodity Specialist at the US Geological Survey (USGS), said, “US Critical Materials has higher rare earth grades than those found in Greenland and Ukraine. . . Recent discussions have highlighted US interest in Ukraine’s and Greenland’s rare earth deposits. However, according to data from each territory’s official Geological Surveys, Sheep Creek’s rare earth grades exceed known deposits in these two areas. Furthermore, the scientific verification of Sheep Creek’s mineral content is more comprehensive and precise than in Greenland or Ukraine.”

“Over my 30+ year career evaluating properties for the U.S. government, I have never encountered a deposit with the high rare earth and gallium grades being generated at Sheep Creek,” stated Jim Hedrick.

Another  advantage of the Sheep Creek rare earth mineralization is the unusually low levels of thorium, a radioactive element often associated with rare earths deposits that require special permitting, extra processing steps,  and disposal protocols.

“The high-grade rare-earth indications together with the low thorium readings are a unique combination,” stated Cowle.

Rare earth minerals (REM) and gallium are crucial elements for almost every technology in the future but especially for national defense, a growing concern since the US has few domestic sources for rare earth metals, and imports about 80 percent of what it needs from China. Recently China began to weaponize its control of rare earths and rare earths processing, and in the past year has banned the export of gallium, germanium, and antimony, to the United States.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) uses rare earth elements for a variety of purposes in its weapon systems – in radar, guidance systems, precision-guided munitions, lasers, satellites, and equipment including night vision goggles, yet mostly depends on China for its supply.

Rare Earths are also essential for the production of a full range of industrial and consumer goods including batteries, mobile phones, laptops, hard drives, lasers, electric vehicles, semiconductors, computer chips, 5g technology, solar panels, wind turbines and medical diagnostic devices.

Emphasizing Montana’s historic role as the “Treasure State,” Kaye said the discovery of rare earth metals and gallium heightens that status. Sheep Creek will be a better resource for the US because of its accessibility and higher critical mineral grades.

Montana, declared Kaye, will be “the point of the spear for national defense.”

According to Cowle, “Sheep Creek contains at least thirteen of the critical risk elements defined by the US Geological Survey. The key elements identified include neodymium, praseodymium, and gallium. The Properties also contain cerium, dysprosium, europium, gadolinium, lanthanum, niobium, scandium, strontium, barium and gallium.”

Gallium is not technically a rare earth mineral but it is rare. Gallium is defined as a critical mineral. In fact, the US is entirely dependent on imports for it, and it is vital to high-performance chips, which are foundational to semiconductors, 5G technology, smartphones, satellite systems, medical diagnostics and therapeutics, and next-generation defense platforms. 

The measured gallium grades at Sheep Creek range from 180 to 385 ppm— far exceeding the 50ppm that the U.S. had been importing, predominantly from China.

The Sheep Creek project represents the nation’s only viable domestic gallium initiative, providing a pivotal opportunity to secure and stabilize the U.S. supply of the mineral.

Since their initial announcement in 2022, US Critical Materials entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to develop a new technology to extract the minerals from the ore with the least environmental impact possible. Kaye emphasized that US Critical Materials is focused upon future mineral extraction in the most environmentally sensitive way possible – “We don’t want to create environmental problems, we want to solve them,” he said.

Most recently, the company has extended its cooperative agreement with INL through February 2027.

The new technology which is being developed is called “Electrochemical Extraction and Purification.” The process is expected to extract gallium and the full spectrum of rare earth critical minerals from the ore through use of a novel Electrochemical Membrane Reactor (EMR). It will, in fact, be adaptable and useful for the recovery of many value-added metals. The proposed EMR consumes only electricity, water and nitrogen. Chemical and waste generation are anticipated to be dramatically reduced, while also reducing costs.

US Critical Materials plans to file national and international patents on the new technologies. They plan to license this cutting- edge technology to other deposits in the United States and friendly countries, which will give the U.S. a strong “bargaining chip” in its desire to work with overseas critical mineral deposits.

AI (artificial intelligence) and geophysics plays a significant part in the exploration of the Sheep Creek project. US Critical Materials engaged aerial services to gather a wide range of geographical data over the 6700 acres of mineral claims that US Critical Material owns at Sheep Creek. That data was then be analyzed by AI to determine the geographical characteristics of the initial 800 acre, and then applied to the rest of the property to identify other potential sites worthy of exploring. The process identified an additional 30 areas that can be developed over time.

Another aspect of Sheep Creek that makes it so extraordinary is that the rare earth deposits are concentrated in “tight veins.” The reality is rare earth metals are not so rare – they can be found in many places but seldom in quantities that make them economical to mine. And, usually when they are found in productive quantities they are broken up and scattered which requires digging large pits and processing tons of material to gather the ore.

And more for Sheep Creek – the geophysical and AI data suggests that there may be a continuous source of ore deeper in the earth from which the “tight veined” outcrops extend. The project includes three adits or tunnels that were developed in the late 1950’s for niobium mineralization by the Continental Columbium Company.  These adits go as deep as 450 feet below the surface. They provide a visual “window” into the deposit—at depth. Sampling of minerals in the adits has shown high grade rare earths and critical minerals

 “We don’t anticipate doing any open pit mining,” said Kaye.

According to Cowle, US Critical Materials will be completing a form, SK-1300, within the next 60 days. This is a Securities and Exchange document which will include, among other things, a third party resource estimate valuing the minerals found at Sheep Creek. The company also expects to file a Plan of Operation with the US Forest Service in the second quarter of 2025 . The Plan of Operation will include drilling sites that the company would like to have permitted for exploratory drilling. The company does not have control over when the Plan of Operations would be approved and drilling permitted.

If the drilling results are positive, US Critical Materials will search for a joint venture partner to file for a mining permit. US Critical Materials is an exploration and technology development Company, and not a mining company. Management would seek an established mining company, or possibly an end user of rare earths to file for a mining permit. “We would like to establish a joint venture with a major mining company or an end user– some of which are already investing directly in US or overseas mining projects,” stated Cowle.

Although difficult to estimate regulatory time horizons, US Critical Materials believes that the timing of their domestic critical minerals project could not be better.

There are only two active rare earth mining projects in the world outside of China: MP Materials in California, and Lynas in Australia.

 US Critical Materials has substantial mineral holdings in Montana and Idaho. A company press release states that the company is “dedicated to securing a domestically sustainable, high-grade supply of rare earth elements and gallium, reducing US reliance on imports, and ensuring a stable, independent supply chain for national security. We are currently utilizing and developing multiple environmentally friendly technologies for the exploration and processing of rare earths and critical minerals.”

County Sets New Rate for State, Feds to Hold Prisoners in YCDF

20 February 2025
Evelyn Pyburn
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The Yellowstone Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution increasing the  inmate reimbursement rate for Montana Department of Corrections an Federal inmates, held at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility (YCDF). The Montana rate will increase from $82.80 to $117 per inmate/day. The Federal government rate will increase from $85 to $117 per inmate day.

For several years, YCDF has been reimbursed a daily rate per inmate less than actual cost. Approximately 10+ years ago, the State of Montana provided their formula to Yellowstone County to calculate daily inmate rate. Since that time, the Board of County Commissioners and the Sheriff’s Office have attempted to recover actual inmate costs from the state. Montana officials have always claimed Yellowstone County improperly calculated the rate and imposed a rate set by the Legislature. The result has been Yellowstone County taxpayers subsidizing the State to hold their prisoners.

Over the past year, Commissioners, Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s office have worked to make YCDF and the criminal justice system, in Yellowstone County, operate more efficiently. While this has helped, it has not relieved pressure on the jail. YCDF routinely houses an average of 575-600+ inmates/day. On average, YCDF houses 50+/- DOC inmates and 50+/- Federal inmates per day.

The effective date of this resolution will be April 1, 2025. This provides an opportunity for the Montana Legislature, during this session to take appropriate action, states the press release.