SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT FROM THE GRAVEL PIT

The gravel mine on Old Hwy 93 south of Lolo has asked Missoula County for a variance to expand to approximately 100 acres; their activities include gravel mining, rock crushing, rock/gravel washing, asphalt production, and concrete production. And this neighborhood has been zoned since 1976! How are they here?

During the variance process, we have learned from requested government records and public records that the mine is illegal. The Missoula County attorney of the time, advised options to remedy the errors in 2008, which the County ignored, and knowingly continued to issue permits. With twenty-five other mines in the Bitterroot, and nineteen more heading out towards Frenchtown, and Knife River's newer 130 acre mine in the mountains, we are confident supply is not the issue; and the DEQ map shows more mines pending. So then what is?

Perhaps you are not aware of the damage a massive asphalt and concrete manufacturing plant can cause? Not only does this affect our neighborhood on the east side of US93, due to the winds, the Bitterroot River and all ranches and residents on the west side of US93 will also receive doses of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and other carcinogenic volatile compounds. If inhaled, concrete particulates have the ability to harden in one’s lungs.

The massive concrete production will send to our environment various amounts of alkaline compounds (calcium oxide), crystalline silica and various amounts of chromium.

Our fragile water ecosystem in the valley south of Lolo will be in jeopardy if the illegal gravel mine is allowed to continue and expand. Several residents have already noted drops in production in their wells and all residents are concerned about the three unmetered wells in the aquifer that is shared with a residential neighborhood.

MPGRanch.com aviary report indicates a population of a particular bird is in decline and contaminants are being investigated. This weekend, people on the Bitterroot River posted photographs of dead bees floating on the river on Facebook.

If Carlton doesn't engage, that sends a message to government that zoning laws mean nothing. Please, stand up and be counted.

The next public hearing, 2pm, June 20th, 2024, Moiese Room, north side of the Missoula Courthouse. Or, you may join online, from MissoulaCountyVoice.com, move to Use Variance to Expand Gravel Operation South of Lolo; instructions to join the meeting may be found there, along with public comments; pdf documents are located in the right-hand margin, as is the variance application.

You may donate to Carlton Protection Trust, a MT nonprofit, via this GoFundMe page, or you may send your check or money order to:

Carlton Protection Trust, P O Box 1556, Lolo, MT 59847.

To receive updates, send your email to us at [email redacted].

If your water has a funny smell, or your well production has changed, we can help you with your paperwork to the appropriate agency.

Thank you for your support of the environment we share. We appreciate the strength in numbers to protect our health, air, water, soils quality, the elk and our wildlife that we so enjoy in the Bitterroot Valley. "A rising tide floats all ships."