DEQ Releases Draft Environmental Assessment on Water Quality Road Construction Permit to Protect Rock Creek in Sanders County

Moira Davin
December 13 2021

HELENA—The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comment on a draft renewal Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MPDES) storm water permit to make improvements to a road to the Rock Creek Mine in Sanders County.

DEQ reviewed the renewal of the MPDES permit for the project that would include work on utilities and the existing road, unrelated to mining. The existing road is eroding and adds sediment to Rock Creek. The project will reduce sediment transported into the Rock Creek drainage by 55 tons per year. This permit renewal is a standard process and the discharge limits and monitoring requirements in the draft are unchanged from the existing permit.

DEQ is accepting public comment on the draft EA until Jan. 14, 2022. Comments can be submitted via mail or email. To submit comment or view the draft permit, EA and fact sheet, please visit: Water Quality | RC Resources, Inc. | Rock Creek Mine – Road Project | Comment Period Closes January 14, 2022 | Montana DEQ (mt.gov)

Tags: Water, News and Press Release