News & Politics Podcasts
If you don’t know Butte Montana, you might have heard it’s one of the biggest toxic messes in the country. But now the “Mining City” is on the verge of sealing a deal that could clean it up once and for all. So how did we get here? What comes after Superfund? And who gets to decide?
Richest Hill Episode 10: We Wear Butte Proudly On Our Skin
Right after talking to a psychic about my own path and Butte’s, I felt comforted. It felt good to let someone else take the wheel for a while, you know? But that comfort turned out to be temporary. Soon, those vague answers about the future only gave birth to more questions.
Richest Hill Episode 09: Butte Never Says Die!
The core of the Superfund deal itself, and how it proposes to solve Butte’s lingering environmental problems forever, is really important and complicated, both legally and technically. And no wonder.
Like 'Richest Hill'? Check Out 'Shared State'
Hi all, Richest Hill host Nora Saks here. I wanted to pop in real quick to let you know that episode 9, which we're calling 'Butte never says die,' is almost done and will be out very soon.
Richest Hill Episode 08: The Art Of The Superfund Deal
Recently, we let the cat out of the bag and told you that Butte’s Superfund parties reached a very big deal; one that will clean up the Mining City forever. That sounds like good news, and I hope it is. But as someone who lives right in the heart of a Superfund megasite, lately I’ve been experiencing some cognitive dissonance.
Richest Hill Episode 07: The Possibilities Are Endless, And The Choice Is Ours
After reporting on Superfund for several years, it’s obvious to me that everyone here wants the best possible cleanup for their town. And, there are very different definitions of what that means.
EPA To Announce Final Butte Cleanup Deal
This season on Richest Hill you’ve been hearing all about what mining meant for Butte, the toxic legacy it left behind, and about sprawling efforts to clean it up that have spanned more than 30 years.
Nora Saks
Nora Saks is a reporter for Montana Public Radio and has been covering Superfund issues in Butte, Montana for the last two years.
Producer
In addition to his work at Montana Public Radio, Nick is a producer at Threshold, a podcast and radio show. Nick’s work has appeared in NPR’s Morning Edition, PRI’s The World, The Washington Post, Outside, and the Mountain West News Bureau, among other outlets. He holds an MA in environmental journalism from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Eric Whitney
Eric Whitney is NPR’s Mountain West/Great Plains Bureau Chief, and formerly Montana Public Radio’s news director. He is the lead editor and executive producer of “Richest Hill.”
About Richest Hill
Butte, Montana is famous. It was at one time the biggest city between Chicago and San Francisco. It’s in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and sits at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River, which flows all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
