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DEQ Seeks Public Comment on Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed Exploration Project in Phillips County

  • Moira Davin
  • November 29 2021

HELENA—The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking public comment on a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposed exploration project near Zortman, Mont. in Phillips County. The new exploration project is proposed by Luke Ployhar on private land at the former Zortman Mine. The proposed project is not a full-scale mine and the operator would have to apply for a separate permit and undergo a separate environmental analysis should he wish to operate a full-scale mine.

DEQ received a complete application for an exploration license from the landowner. The proposed exploration project includes excavating one trench, approximately 350 square feet and 25 feet deep, to extract a 125-ton bulk sample for metallurgical testing. The project includes construction of an access road that would be left in place after project completion for use by the landowner. The entire project is anticipated to last approximately 10 days and disturb 0.18 acres. DEQ would require all disturbances except the road to be reclaimed.

The proposed exploration project would take place within the former mine operation boundary and a small area would be located within a reclaimed area of the former mine. The applicant has been notified of the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) which is the law that governs Superfund sites. Superfund remediation at the former mine site was led by the Bureau of Land Management and they have also been notified of the proposed project.

This is the second proposed exploration project in this area. DEQ released a final EA in February of 2021 for a proposed exploration project from Blue Arc. That project would extract a 1,000-ton bulk sample and disturb 1.4 acres. The applicant is required to post bond before receiving a license to begin exploration activities. At this time, DEQ has not received bond for that project.

Both projects are considered in the cumulative impacts section of the new EA.

DEQ prepared a draft EA to analyze potential impacts from the proposed exploration project. DEQ will accept public comments on the draft EA until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. To submit substantive comments or view the document, please visit the DEQ website at: https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/news-article1

An exploration license is not an operating permit to mine. An exploration license authorizes activity for the purpose of determining the presence and extent of an ore body. An exploration license does not authorize the mining of an ore body. If a proposed project meets the requirements of Montana law (82-4-332, Montana Code Annotated), DEQ must issue the exploration license. The draft EA is not a decision document and is a disclosure of the potential impacts from the project.

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