DNRC Accepting Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment

Register to Participate in Zoom Hearing. 6:00 PM. March 18, 2024. You must pre-register to participate.

Email written comments to zackary.winfield@mt.gov. Subject line: DSL Asphalt Plant. Email MUST be received from 6pm on March 18 to 5pm on March 19th to be considered.

Visible throughout the Madison Valley

The proposed mine expansion and asphalt plant will permanently alter the view of the Madison Valley from Ennis to McAllister including Lake Ennis, Jeffers, and the Lee Metcalf Wilderness.

Recreational users of the Madison River between the Town of Ennis and Ennis Lake will be directly impacted - if you are in the purple area on the map, you will be impacted.

Map of A.M. Welles Permit

This map shows the permitted locations of:

  • Asphalt Plant

  • Elimination of Eastern Bench - Exposing the Valley to visual and runoff pollution

  • Crushers, Asphalt, and Concrete Storage

  • Wash Plants and Settling Ponds

The DSL Pit Gravel Mine expansion and proposed Asphalt Plant - located on the banks of the Madison River only 1.0 miles from Ennis and 1.6 miles from McAllister - will cause air, noise, visual, and water pollution.

Our mission is to protect the Madison Valley ecosystem, its wildlife, its families, and its $70 million outdoor recreation economy from all manner of pollution and permanent scarring from the DSL PIT Gravel Mine and asphalt plant expansion.

This Mine is 964 feet from the banks of a Madison River tributary.

This area is a critical habitat and home to ecologically significant: fish populations (brown and rainbow trout) as well as Grayling (this mine expansion is 2,974 feet from Arctic Grayling release site);  bird species such as Trumpeter and Tundra Swans and other waterfowl; mammals and game species such as Moose, Elk, Whitetail Deer and Pronghorn Antelope. This mine is located upriver of the “Outstanding Resource Water” designated area of the Lee Metcalf wilderness.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) have issued permits allowing A.M. Welles to expand the mine with the potential use of an asphalt plant and concrete and asphalt recycling plants through 2042.

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Ennis Lake does not need more sedimentation!

All of these activities create significant fugitive dust and airborne silica. Depending on wind direction, this cancer-causing fugitive dust and airborne silica will continue to blow towards the communities of McAllister and Ennis.

Silt, toxic-algae blooms, pollution, all has terribly negative effects on lake temperature.

PHOTO GALLERY

  • Aerial of present mine. Ennis Lake and Town of McAllister in the background.

  • Flowing water "ditch" less than 1000 feet from current mine and directly next to natural terrace to be torn down. Town of Ennis in the background.

  • Political signs on State-owned land.

  • Political signs on State-owned land.

  • Under the supervision of the DNRC, AM Welles is allowed to consume significant amounts of water without any water rights or permit on State Lands.

  • Presence of significant imported material (foreground) and construction equipment.

  • Daily operations of AM Welles mine with Ennis Lake in upper right and future asphalt plant and concrete crushing plant upper left. Eastern geologic bench protecting Madison Valley from visual, noise, and run off pollution in center will be eliminated.

  • Significant fugitive dust and silica blowing towards the residential community of Troutdale in McAllister, MT and Ennis Lake.

  • Tundra Swans in foreground - AM Welles mine and future asphalt plant in background.

  • Spring calving area for Pronghorn Antelope (foreground). DSL PIT and mine in the background with natural terrace to be removed.

  • On State Land advertising the sale of Decorative Rock with imported material on side of highway.

  • Significant fugitive dust and silica blowing towards the residential community of Troutdale in McAllister, MT and Ennis Lake.

  • Mine in foreground and Ennis Lake in background with the Beartooth Canyon and the Madison River designated as an Outstanding Water Resource flowing through Lee Metcalf Wilderness. Also note that geologic bench will be removed exposing the entire Ennis Lake to the mine.

“Clean, cold water is the number one priority for a healthy watershed. How important is a healthy Madison watershed to you?”

— Jon Malovich, Madison River Foundation