I-137 backers may not seek amendment

HELENA (AP) - The group that wrote Montana's law banning cyanide heap-leach mining in 1998 may or may not actually campaign to write the ban into the state constitution this year, its executive director says.

Jim Jensen, executive director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, submitted paperwork for a proposed constitutional amendment on Friday, but he said Saturday that doesn't commit anyone to trying to get it on the November ballot. He said he's not sure ban supporters will even try.

But he said they want to keep all options open for fighting mining interests that are backing an...