Impacts of gravel pits to be examined

State officials think it's time to take a comprehensive look at the environmental impacts of gravel pits in Flathead County.

There are currently about 120 permitted gravel mines here. They produced about 2.63 million cubic yards of gravel last year, with a dozen firms accounting for 93 percent of that total.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality recently proposed doing a "programmatic analysis" that would address the cumulative impacts of new and existing gravel pits.

"With the amount of development that's taking place in the Flathead, we've recognized for some time that it might be appropriate to take a broad look at impacts," said Steve Welch, the administrator of the department's Permitting and Compliance Division.

"When we permit gravel mines one by one, we probably don't get to the level of analysis needed to address cumulative impacts," Welch said. For example, "we recognize that there could be a potential for water quality, water quantity problems in some areas. We need to look at that on a more regional basis and consider how it could be mitigated."

Welch said the state has never done a programmatic analysis specifically for gravel pits, although it has done such studies for other issues, such as coal-bed methane development in eastern Montana.

"We do them as we see a need," he said.

(The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation did a programmatic environmental study last year on real estate development options on 5.1 million acres of school trust lands.)

It's unclear when the agency will start the gravel analysis or how long it will take. However, Welch said the process would take months, rather than weeks.

"We're going to be doing this in-house, using our own scientific and technical staff, so it's going to take some time," he said. "Everyone's plate is pretty full right now, and we have no money appropriated for this."

Welch said he hopes to have a preliminary meeting with local officials, industry representatives and public representatives later this fall. The intent would be to identify some of the major issues and concerns that would be addressed once the analysis begins.

The Montana Environmental Policy Act process typically provides several opportunities for public comment and involvement.

It's too early to determine what effect the analysis might have on future permit applications for new gravel mines.

Welch said new mine proposals would still be required to provide their own environmental analyses, as is the case now. However, additional mitigation requirements that would currently go undetected might be identified as a result of the state analysis.

"This is just a tool to give us a better idea regarding the cumulative impacts and how we need to proceed forward," he said. "But in the end, our decision still needs to be based on state statutes."

By state law, sand or gravel mines can't be prohibited in nonresidential zoning districts or unzoned areas, although reasonable conditions can be imposed on the operations.

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com