Gravel-mining comment date extended to May 1

The Daily Inter Lake

The state comment period has been extended for a gravel pit expansion proposed near West Glacier.

On Thursday the Montana Department of Environmental Quality extended until May 1 the time for the public to comment on an application by Bob Spoklie to increase the size of his existing gravel mining operation.

"We want to be sure that the public has adequate time to submit their comments due to the controversy surrounding this application," Richard Opper, state DEQ director, said in a news release.

The gravel mining operation is 1.5 miles southwest of West Glacier in rolling forested hills between the BNSF Railway tracks to the west, Belton Stage Road to the east and undeveloped land to the north.

The expansion would increase the permit area from 2 to 24 acres, increase the maximum depth to be mined from 30 to 70 feet, and increase the estimated amount of gravel to be removed from 46,400 to 1.8 million cubic yards.

The state's environmental assessment for the project is available online at www.deq.mt.gov/ea/opencut.asp

Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on May 1.

Comments may be e-mailed to rsamdahl@mt.gov, or faxed or mailed to Rod Samdahl, Department of Environmental Quality, Industrial and Energy Minerals Bureau, 109 Cooperative Way, Suite 105, Kalispell, MT 59901, fax (406) 755-8977.

For more information, call (406) 755-8985.