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DEQ issues draft Environmental Assessment for proposed septage land application site in Broadwater County

  • April 07 2025

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) published a draft Environmental Assessment Friday (EA) for Scenic City Enterprises (SCE) regarding a proposed land application site in Broadwater County.

The proposal for the Site includes approximately 540 acres of private land located on the Flikkema LeFebre Ranches Property, at Sections 5, 15, and 22, Township 3 North, Range 1 East, Broadwater County, Montana. Site 1 would be accessed from a private drive via Jeep Trail.  Sites 2 and 3 would be accessed from private drives off US Highway 287.

In the application, SCE proposes to apply to agriculture fields septage that has been pumped from septic tanks, cesspools or other primary treatment sources. Primary treatment reduces bacteria and other pathogens prior to land application, where remaining pathogens are destroyed by sunlight or application of lime. DEQ reviews and licenses septic tank pumpers and assesses applications for proposed land application sites according to requirements in State Administrative Rules. These rules include requirements related to site access as well as setbacks to surface water, residences, groundwater wells and steep topography. The application review process ensures that projects are protective of human health and the environment.

DEQ prepared a draft EA in compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act to analyze potential impacts of the proposal. There is a 30-day public comment period following the publication of the draft EA, after which DEQ will review comments and make a final decision on the application. Public comment closes May 5th, 2025, and comments can be submitted electronically or by mail. To view the draft EA, titled “Waste Management Bureau | Scenic City Enterprises Septage Land Application Site Draft Environmental Assessment | Denton, MT | Comment Period Ends May 5th, 2025,” or to submit comment, please visit https://deq.mt.gov/public/solidwaste-public.

Tags: Press Release and Solid Waste