BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Conservationists lined up Wednesday in support of the embattled management of a Montana mining company, citing concerns that a longstanding environmental agreement could suffer if a takeover by investors including former Gov. Brian Schweitzer succeeds.

The Clinton Group, a New York hedge fund, has nominated a slate of replacement directors for Stillwater Mining Co. that includes Schweitzer, a Democrat who left office after eight years in January due to term limits.