From the Wednesday, August 8, 2007 online edition of The Globe and Mail . . .

As two coal-based mining projects begin to move ahead in British Columbia, an effort by the province and neighbouring Montana to work together on the environmental effects of mining has cooled off.

Nearly two years after the two jurisdictions began work on a way to deal with cross-border concerns over proposed resource developments, there is still no approved plan, and no formal talks are scheduled.

Meanwhile, a metallurgical coal mine and a potential $3-billion coal bed methane project are moving ahead, although both are at very early stages.

“We’re at a little bit of an impasse, but we haven’t given up,” said John van Dongen, B.C. Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations. “We’re working on it.”

Mike Volesky, natural resources adviser to Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, wouldn’t call it an impasse, but he confirmed there have been no formal talks since December, 2006. He was uncertain whether the dialogue could be restarted before the fall.

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