GREENOUGH - In response to the Jan. 30, 2017 letter from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation about the proposed Elbow Gravel Pit, I have several points to make and questions to ask.
First of all, the location of this five-acre gravel pit is an offense to the wildness of the area. The extremely noisy and disruptive operation is proposed to be located in a major wildlife corridor between the Blackfoot-Clearwater Game Range and the Clearwater River and of course, on a larger scale, between the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Rattlesnake and Mission Mountain Wildernesses.
The “Last Best Place” cemetery is also located just across the road from the proposed pit. It really wouldn’t be the “last best place” cemetery during that operation with all the loud, shrieking noises of heavy metal equipment scraping against big rocks for six months.
It seems a lot of gravel pits are already sprinkled around the general area along Highway 200 near Clearwater Junction and next to the entrance to the Double Arrow Ranch. Others are located in the area, but those are the ones that stand out the most to me. They are an eyesore, to say the least. They completely offend the beauty and serenity of the area.
Questions: Why can’t the gravel be obtained from an already-existing pit located closer to where the gravel is needed, which is north of Seeley Lake at least ten miles away? That solution seems much more efficient.
Also, what is the proposal for the five acres after the pit would be abandoned? Is the idea to just leave the five acres as is after six months? I think a clear vision is needed.
I am completely opposed to a gravel pit in this location for all the reasons mentioned above. If the pit is approved, the noise hours need to be lined out and limited to certain days and hours.
On behalf of the otters, bears, elk, mountain lions, eagles, owls, sandhill cranes etc in the area, please do not create this awful gravel pit.
Comments are due by March 1 to the Clearwater State Forest, 48455 S. Sperry Grade Road Greenough, MT 59823; kbaker@mt.gov or call 406-244-2381.
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