Exposing the Gateway Conservation Alliance’s tactics and proposing a healthy alternative.
In early June of 2023, our family’s gravel pit project was announced. What should have been a constructive conversation about community development quickly devolved into a textbook example of the activist playbook at work. Leading this charge is the Gateway Conservation Alliance (GCA), a non-profit spearheaded by a recent transplant from San Francisco. From their inception, GCA’s tactics have sown discord, spreading baseless claims and manipulating public opinion for their agenda.
The Strategy: Stirring Fear and Distrust
From their first community meetings, GCA employed scare tactics, presenting a barrage of unsubstantiated environmental claims. Among their accusations:
- Air pollution: Despite no historical evidence of harm from TMC Inc.’s operations.
- Traffic safety issues: Unsubstantiated fears of increased accidents when data shows less trucks will be needed to travel less distance. Also ignoring TMC Inc. traffic safety record and road improvements to address concerns.
- Elimination of elk migration corridors: Ignoring historical data that locals have presented that current elk habits are a new development with no evidence to show harm.
- Water contamination and depletion: Claims contradicted by decades of safe operations by TMC Inc. spotless record.
- Noise pollution: Claim made In spite of mitigation employed by TMC Inc. and not supported by evidence considering current highway 191 road noise levels.
- Declining property values: A speculative claim, not grounded in consideration of the property improvement through reclamation. Harm caused by making false claims isn’t considered.
In fact, TMC Inc., with its long history of responsible mining, has left behind reclaimed sites that enhance rather than harm their surrounding environments. But GCA’s rhetoric is not about facts; it’s about fear. You will never hear them offer data and evidence to support their concerns or the future reclamation vision.
Manipulating Media and Community Sentiment
GCA skillfully weaponized the local media. Through their website, social media platforms, and “news” media interviews, they projected a narrative of environmental catastrophe. Local media, rather than conducting balanced journalism, became accomplices, amplifying their claims without seeking input from our side. For two months, we were denied interviews, leaving GCA’s narrative to dominate unchecked.
The damage to community trust became evident. At a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) meeting in August, the atmosphere was toxic, marked by accusations of lying and a refusal to consider facts. Attempts to engage in dialogue at GCA-hosted meetings were futile; emotions overpowered reason, and any chance of exploring collaborative solutions was obliterated.
Lawfare: Weaponizing the Legal System
After approval of the gravel pit from the Montana DEQ and when media manipulation wasn’t enough, GCA turned to lawfare, filing lawsuits to obstruct our project and rights:
- Suing Gallatin County for not zoning us.
- Challenging the constitutionality of HB599 by suing the state of Montana.
These lawsuits are not about justice but attrition, using the legal system to drain resources and force us to capitulate. This misuse of lawfare exemplifies their intent: to sabotage rather than build up.
The Fallout: Economic and Community Harm
GCA’s tactics have not only tarnished our family’s reputation but have also inflicted economic hardships on our community. Miners, construction workers, truckers, and infrastructure projects all suffer under inflated gravel prices caused by unnecessary delays. If GCA succeeds, the ripple effects will extend across Montana, stalling hundreds of projects statewide.
Fighting Back: Amplifying the Truth
To counter GCA’s destructive playbook, we must:
- Amplify the truth: Platforms like gatewayrocks.com, YouTube, and social media can counter misinformation.
- Engage good media outlets: Encourage unbiased reporting to present all sides of the story.
- Pressure the legislature: Non-profits must be held accountable. Reforms should include:
- Bonds to cover legal costs for baseless claims.
- Minimum evidence thresholds before lawsuits are filed.
- Personal liability for individuals making false accusations.
A Better Way Forward
There is a healthier alternative to the propagandist playbook:
- Approach controversial projects with curiosity and respect.
- Foster dialogue that explores concerns and solutions together.
- Ensure media publishes balanced narratives backed by evidence.
- Examine issues through data and track records.
This approach yields healthier discussions, mutual respect, and informed communities. Trust grows, and projects evolve to address legitimate concerns or are abandoned when justified by facts.
The Verdict
As the saying goes, “You know a tree by the fruit it bears.” The Gateway Conservation Alliance’s tactics have borne nothing but bad fruit: distrust, economic hardship, and inflated costs for Montanans. Think of how much they could have impacted actual environmental causes with the resources they’ve wasted on this case. If left unchecked, their methods will continue to erode the fabric of our communities. It’s time to stand against these harmful practices and advocate for accountability, transparency, and genuine collaboration.
My hope is to shed light on the harmful tactics employed by the Gateway Conservation Alliance and to break the cycle of division and mistrust they perpetuate. I know they read every post and watch every interview I give. Perhaps the shame they feel is why they’ve removed the names of their board of directors from their website. That same awareness should extend to their sponsors, who ought to feel embarrassed by what they are knowingly or unknowingly supporting. Above all, I want my children to grow up in a community where trust and collaboration are not just ideals but realities.
Take a moment to listen to my recent interview on Montana talks to learn more.