Did You Know?
An estimated 38,000 tons of aggregates are necessary to construct one mile ... More »
FAQs
Who has zoning authority?
Local government should have the authority for land use zoning and should have the right to zone appropriate locations for sand and gravel operations, now and in the future. In addition, landowners should have reasonable rights to protect their future right to mine and process gravel. Full disclosure of zoning would alert neighbors, potential buyers and residents that the land is zoned to allow for sand and gravel operations. MCA ... More »
Oversite
Contrary to popular belief, Montana provides tight permitting procedures and regulatory oversight for sand and gravel operations at both state and local levels.
- Montana open cut mining laws regulate sand and gravel operations (MCA Title 82-Ch 4) and require guidelines for reclamation procedures (ARM Title 17-Ch 24).
- Gravel operations are subject to the Montana Environmental Policy Act, which requires Montana Department of Environmental Quality to conduct environmental assessments on every proposed operation. The MDEQ also issues permits for all gravel operations which specify "conditions" under which they operate.
- Local governments approve and oversee zoning and land use regulations that often result in additional “conditions” on gravel operations.
BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR
In addition to governmental regulatory oversight, the MCA has developed a Good Neighbor Policy that addresses the concerns most often expressed by local residents. We’re proud that our member companies have been partners in building better communities throughout the state by adopting a Good Neighbor Policy that deals with:
- Dust
- Noise
- Visual impacts
- Traffic safety
- Hours of operation
- Weed management
- Notices to neighboring residents
To download the entire Good Neighbor policy, please visit the Downloads page.