Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer says the federal government hasn't come up with some $17 million needed to compensate mining companies as part of a deal to protect the area surrounding Glacier National Park.
The joint U.S.-Canada deal signed in February halts ongoing exploration and prohibits future development of gold, coal, oil and gas in much of the Flathead River Basin.
The basin sprawls across some 9,000 square miles and straddles the border.
Schweitzer told a Canadian government official Thursday that he spoke with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Montana's two U.S. senators. The governor says the "federal partners have let us down."
Sen. Max Baucus' office says there has been no formal request from Schweitzer for federal money to buy out the foreign interests.
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