加拿大西部目前计划实施一些规模庞大的能源勘查项目,而美国环保人士则担心这些勘查活动会对原始落基山脉造成不可逆转的生态损害。美国蒙大拿州政府希望能说服加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省放弃其在平头谷(Flathead Valley)的煤炭和天然气勘查计划。平头谷是加拿大与美国共有的辽阔山地区。在该谷的美国一侧坐落着世界著名的美国冰川国家公园,而该谷的加拿大部分则形成加拿大第四个国家公园-瓦特顿湖国家公园(Waterton Lakes National Park),两个公园共同组成瓦特顿冰川国际和 Western Canada currently plans to implement some of the largest energy exploration projects, while U.S. environmentalists are concerned that these exploration activities will cause irreversible ecological damage to the original Rocky Mountains. The U.S. Montana state government hopes to persuade British Columbia, Canada, to abandon its coal and gas exploration program in Flathead Valley. Flathead Valley is Canada and the United States share the vast mountain area. Located on the U.S. side of the valley is the world-famous American Glacier National Park, and the Canadian portion of the valley forms the fourth national park in Canada, Waterton Lakes National Park, Glacier International and