www.monsanto.com

SITUATION
In Caribou County, Idaho, Monsanto mines phosphate, which is refined into elemental phosphorous. This is the foundational ingredient in glyphosate, better known as the popular Roundup herbicide. Monsanto needs a new source of phosphate ore and called on Gallatin to work side-by-side with the Company to navigate the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process which includes the federal permitting agency soliciting public comment.

STRATEGY
Our strategy was to identify, nurture and expand public support for the Blackfoot Bridge Mine, which will use innovative approaches to protect the Blackfoot River and its tributaries and provide excellent reclaimed wildlife habitat. We worked closely with key stakeholder communities – including farmers, vendors and suppliers, local governments, nonprofits and employees – to provide quality information about project and the EIS process so that when the public comment period began supporters were ready to act.

OUTCOME
While other mining projects in the region had received strong opposition through the official comment period – some by as much as 20-1 – public comment on Blackfoot Bridge came in at 5-1 in favor of the development. Moreover, support for the mine was even more overwhelming in the local region, while most of the opposition came from out-of-state interests.

Monsanto began construction of the mine in August of 2011.