State of Montana Newsroom
DEQ Issues Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed Landfill Expansion in Lake County
Helena—The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) published a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Lake County Waste District regarding a proposed expansion of the Lake County Landfill in Polson, Montana, Friday.
The proposal includes approximately 50 acres of property located south of the currently operating Lake County Landfill at 3500 Kerr Dam Rd. A private drive would be used to access the site from the main entrance off Kerr Dam Road to the north. Of the 50 acres, only 19 acres are planned for active landfilling activities. The remaining acreage will go unused and retain its grassland character during the 29 years of active landfilling in this area.
The existing landfill is expected to reach capacity in January of 2026. The landfill currently accepts only Group III and IV waste (e.g., inert waste such as tires, concrete and clean wood; construction and demolition waste). This expansion would allow for the acceptance of Group II waste (e.g., household garbage), alleviating the need for this waste to be transported to Missoula, Montana, for final disposal.
DEQ prepared a draft EA in compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act to analyze potential impacts of the proposal. The agency is now accepting public comment on the draft EA, after which DEQ will review comments and make a final decision on the application. Public comment closes April 14, 2024, and comments can be submitted electronically or by mail.
To view the draft EA or to submit comment, please visit the DEQ website at: https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/Lake-County-Landfill-Expansion-03-14-24.