For now, most Butte residents can safely use their tap water again—but the situation remains under close watch as environmental authorities continue to test and assess water quality.
“These investments will make drinking water systems more resilient to future storms, helping to ensure that communities have uninterrupted access to healthy water,” said NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson.
Despite the controversy, the DOE has opened the report for public comment, inviting feedback from stakeholders across academia, industry, and government.
The initiative is part of OSHA’s broader Alliance Program, which fosters partnerships with unions, trade organizations, educational institutions, and community groups to promote workplace health and safety.
Others have voiced concern that the administration’s emphasis on permitting reform and energy expansion could ultimately prioritize industry growth over ecosystem health.
Ontario may still hold world-class mineral wealth—from gold in Red Lake to nickel in the Ring of Fire—but its ability to attract mining investment depends on more than geology.