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Note #7969 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Mine field
03431
October 7, 2003

Mine field

MRTI studies mining-related environmental problems in Montana

by Jerry L. Van Marter

MISSOULA, MT - A visit to a mining-related "superfund" site and conversations
with industry and environmental groups that are involved in its clean-up
highlighted the fall meeting of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Mission
Responsibility Through Investment Committee (MRTI) here Sept. 11-13.

Environmental and economic development have commanded much of MRTI's
attention in recent year's and this meeting was no exception. MRTI is charged
by the General Assembly to monitor corporate behavior and make investment
recommendations to denominational investors based on its findings.

The committee includes representatives from the church's two major investing
entities, the Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundation and the Board of Pensions.

After worshiping at the nearby Milltown Dam, where heavy metal sediments from
abandoned mines upstream collect in concentrated amounts, MRTI members met
with officials of Atlantic Richfield (now a division of British Petroleum),
which is responsible for cleaning up many mining-related "superfund" sites.
The meeting included a tour of the Berkley Pit - one of Montana's largest
superfund sites - which collects the heavily acidic water that drains from
abandoned copper, lead, gold and silver mines in the area.

Later, the group met with Tracy Stone-Manning of the Clark Fork Coalition for
an overview of its concerns about pollution of the historic river and the
surrounding area from mine sites.

Economic development issues on the Flathead Indian Reservation, home of the
Salish and Kootenai tribes, illustrated the challenges involved in balancing
corporate economic planning with cultural preservation.

MRTI met with Joe Durglo of the S & K Holding Company, who described various
projects to develop housing and education as well as create job
opportunities, particularly for the tribal members wishing to live a more
traditional lifestyle based upon a variety of outdoor seasonal jobs.

The committee also met with Gary Neumann, sales manager for the tribal owned
Best Western motel and conference center on Flathead Lake, who outlined that
economic development effort.

"The Salish and Kootenai people are pioneering economic development and
environmental responsibility with deep respect for their tradition and
culture," said MRTI member Vernon Carroll of Frenchtown, MT. Carroll, a
Native American, is currently chair of the PC(USA)'s General Assembly
Council.

"It is exciting to see the church begin to reach out to build a real
partnership," Carroll said.  "The opportunity for ministry is breathtaking."

The committee noted several successes of the last year and, led by new
chairperson Carol Hylkema of Dearborn, MI, adopted its work plan for
2003-2004.

MRTI celebrated:

* Improved lending performance by Citibank and Astoria Financial;

* Higher proxy votes in several stockholder meetings on resolutions to urge
corporations to take more aggressive action to address climate change;

* Renewed dialogue with Home Depot on endorsing stronger environmental
protection guidelines known as the CERES Principles; and

* The upcoming publication in Church & Society magazine of MRTI's 30-year
history of promoting socially-responsible investing throughout the church.

The work plan includes:

* Promoting environmental sustainability reports at Archer, Daniels Midland;

* Urging Lowe's to endorse the CERES Principles;

* Seeking affirmative action/equal employment opportunity data from CVS
Pharmacies;

* Urging Conoco/Phillips Petroleum to develop an aggressive program to
address greenhouse gas emissions; and

* Continuing dialogue with Home Depot on the CERES Principles, with
Caterpillar Tractor on making its environmental protection record public, and
with Lehman Brothers about its procedures to prevent the purchase of
predatory loans made by subprime lenders.

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