HELENA – The Montana Department of Environmental Quality seeks public comment to help guide an Environmental Assessment for a proposed limestone quarry near Drummond.
Montana Limestone Resources is seeking an operating permit to extract and process limestone at a 546-acre site on property owned by Washington Limestone Resources. The property is approximately 2.5 miles west of Drummond in Granite County. Approximately 7,000 tons of limestone per week would be extracted from the open pit mine.
DEQ determined that MLR’s application was complete and compliant and, on May 13, 2019, issued MLR a draft operating permit for the proposed project. DEQ is now preparing an Environmental Assessment to analyze the potential impacts of the proposed project, as required by the Montana Environmental Policy Act.
The first phase required in preparing an EA is to conduct “scoping” to identify environmental issues associated with the proposed project. DEQ seeks comments from federal, tribal, state and local governments, and the public to identify potential impacts, as well as possible alternatives to be considered. The comments will assist an interdisciplinary team of experts in establishing the scope of the EA.
DEQ is accepting public comments through June 19, 2019. The public may submit comments electronically at mlr-ea@eroresources.com or by postal mail to the following address:
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
Attn: Jen Lane, MEPA Coordinator
PO Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620-0901
The permit application is available for public review at DEQ’s main office in Helena at 1520 E. 6th Ave., or by visiting DEQ’s website: deq.mt.gov/Land/hardrock/mlr_apppg