'No' to gravel pit in West Glacier

The Flathead County Commissioners are scheduled to meet Jan. 24 to consider the Spoklie gravel mine permit in West Glacier. We urge the commissioners to deny the application for the following reasons:

(1) The existing Middle Canyon Zoning Plan, passed by the community (which includes West Glacier) in 1994 and adopted by the county commissioners, clearly prohibits gravel mine activity in this sensitive area, adjacent to Glacier National Park.

(2) The "grandfathered" status assigned to this mine by the county appears to be based on illegal retroactive revisions of previous annual reports that recorded the gravel pit's dormancy. At the very least, the commissioners should defer their decision until the legality of the "grandfathered" status has been investigated.

(3) Last year, Spoklie expanded the gravel operation in violation of county regulations. He should not be rewarded for disregarding the law. Permit approval would demonstrate that the commissioners consider neighborhood plans irrelevant.

(4) Approval would represent a violation of public trust. At the community meeting held by the Middle Canyon Advisory Board, the community (by an overwhelming majority) recommended permit denial. The commissioners' professional planning office recommended permit denial. The planning board inexplicably ignored these recommendations, voting for approval and attaching "conditions" that will not, and cannot, relieve the extensive negative impacts of this mine.

(5) Property rights are accompanied by responsibilities. Those responsibilities include avoiding the degradation of other properties. Approving this permit would authorize a commercial business to export noise, pollution, wildlife impacts, health impacts and safety problems, thus violating the property rights of numerous landowners and the integrity of Glacier Park (800 feet from the mine).

(6) Denial will demonstrate that legally adopted rules and zoning will be enforced by the commissioners, thereby benefiting current and future residents and affirming a commitment to resource stewardship in the Middle Canyon.

Riley and Pat McClelland

West Glacier