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 onl

Richest Hill Episode 09: Butte Never Says Die!

Sep 22nd, 2020 50m 51s

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. Three levels of government — the county, sta

Like 'Richest Hill'? Check Out 'Shared State'

Sep 9th, 2020 2m

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

Jun 24th, 2020 48m 10s

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 hea

Richest Hill Episode 07: The Possibilities Are Endless, And The Choice Is Ours

Mar 26th, 2020 49m 41s

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

Feb 12th, 2020 2m 6s

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.

Richest Hill Episode 06: Our Most Cherished Beliefs

Jan 7th, 2020 52m 53s

After more than 30 years in limbo without a final cleanup agreement, the ink is drying on Butte’s big Superfund deal as we speak. What it means and why it matters has everything to do with what played out when Superfund came to Montana’s Mining

Richest Hill Episode 05: Out Of The Frying Pan, Into The Fire

Aug 13th, 2019 37m 11s

From Evel Knievel to a 'Great Flood' and on to the dawning of the Superfund era, Episode 5 looks at the origins of the government program designed to force whoever made the mess to clean it up.

Richest Hill Episode 04: We Gave It To The Pit

May 29th, 2019 41m 23s

I live a mile away from the Berkeley Pit, the mile by mile and a half wide former open-pit mine, which is now filled with a 50 billion gallon toxic lake. Every time I visit, I leave hyper aware of the contradictions and compromises that go hand

Richest Hill: Behind The Scenes With Butte Artist BT Livermore

May 9th, 2019 9m 34s

We're hard at work on episode 4 of Richest Hill, and still covering lots of Superfund news in Butte right now. In the mean time, meet one of the artists who's contributed to this project behind the scenes.

Richest Hill Episode 03: First And Last Warning

Apr 9th, 2019 35m 57s

In August 1917, Frank Little was the victim of a grisly murder in Butte. Little was a labor organizer who came to Butte to unify and radicalize Butte’s miners in their fight against the Anaconda Mining Company for higher wages and safer working

Murder, Frank Little, And Butte's Superfund Cleanup: What's The Connection?

Mar 19th, 2019 1m 23s

Hey there loyal Richest Hill listeners, Nora Saks here. I wanted to let you know that we’re hard at work on Episode 3.

Richest Hill Episode 02: For The Benefit Of Mankind

Mar 12th, 2019 31m 18s

At first glance, Butte, Montana's mutilated industrial landscape is often written-off as an ecological sacrifice-zone. Dirty, ugly as sin and regrettable, but necessary to supply the country with perhaps the most basic necessity of the Electric

Richest Hill Episode 01: Butte's Precarious Arrangement

1 Mar 5th, 2019 17m 43s

Richest Hill episode 01: Get to know Butte, Montana, one of America's biggest Superfund sites and one of Montana’s most compelling places. Richest Hill is a new podcast about the past, present and future of Butte, America, "The Richest Hill on

Richest Hill Episode 00: Series Preview

Feb 12th, 2019 1m 53s

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.

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