Reclamation and development grants program : report to the Legislature, projects proposed for the ... biennium and status report of ... projects

48 Pages·1991·1.5 MB·English

by  Montana. Conservation and Resource Development Division

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352.73
N7RDG
IATIONAND
1993
DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
PROGRAM
•••• REPORTTOTHELEGISLATURE••• •
JANUARY1993
STATEDOCUMENTS COLLECTIG:
R 1C 1993
MONTANASTATELIBRARY
HELEN1A5,15MEO.N6TtAhNAAVE5.D520
MontanaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandConservation
1520EastSixthAvenue•P.O.Box202301
Helena,MT59620-2301
[phone]
MONTANASdTATELIBRARY
S336185N7rdfl1993 rantfprogf
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30864000825086
RECLAMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
GRANTS PROGRAM
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
Projects Proposedfor the 1994-1995 Biennium
and
Status Report of1987-1991 Projects
January 1993
MontanaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandConservation
ConservationandResourceDevelopmentDivision
1520EastSixthAvenue
Helena,Montana 59620-2301
ABBREVIATIONS
AMD acidminedrainage
ARCO AtlanticRichfieldCompany
ASCS AgriculturalStabilizationandConservationService,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture
BLM BureauofLandManagement,U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior
BMP bestmanagementpractice
BOGC MontanaBoardofOilandGasConservation
BWQA BullheadWaterQualityAssociation
CD conservationdistrict
CDB ConservationDistrictsBureau,MontanaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandConservation
Co. county
DFWP MontanaDepartmentofFish,WildlifeandParks
DHES MontanaDepartmentofHealthandEnvironmentalSciences
DNRC MontanaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandConservation
DSL MontanaDepartmentofStateLands
EA environmentalassessment
EPA U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency
FTE full-timeemployee
GIS GeographicInformationSystem
GPD gallonsperday
gpm gallonsperminute
LIS LandInformationSystem
MBMG MontanaBureauofMinesandGeology
MCA MontanaCodeAnnotated
MDOA MontanaDepartmentofAgriculture
MEIC MontanaEnvironmentalInformationCenter
Montana
Tech MontanaCollegeofMineralScienceandTechnology
MSCA MontanaSalinityControlAssociation
MSU MontanaStateUniversity
NIDR NationalInstituteofDisputeResolution
NPS nonpointsource
NPSP nonpointsourcepollution
OSM OfficeofSurfaceMining,U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior
PMC PlantMaterialsCenter
ppm partspermillion
PRP potentialresponsibleparty
RC&D ResourceConservationandDevelopment[Area]
RDGP ReclamationandDevelopmentGrantsProgram
PUT ResourceIndemnityTrust
RTTF ResourceIndemnityTrustFund
RRU ReclamationResearchUnit
SCS SoilConservationService,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture
USBM BureauofMines,U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior
USBR BureauofReclamation,U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior
USDA U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture
USFS ForestService,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture
USGS GeologicalSurvey,U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior
WASTEC Water,Air,andSoilsTestingandEvaluationCenter
WGA WesternGovernors'Association
WQA WaterQualityAct
WSCT westslopecutthroat
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
IndexofProjectsSubmittedforFundinginthe1994-1995Biennium iv
CHAPTER
I
ProgramDescriptionandProcedures 1
ProgramInformation 1
ProjectEligibility 1
ApplicantEligibility 2
FundingLimits 2
ApplicationReviewandRankingProcedures 2
Recommendations 3
CHAPTER
II
ProjectSummariesandRecommendationsforthe1994-1995Biennium 7
CHAPTER
III
StatusReportof1987-1991 Projects 25
ActiveProjectsApprovedbythe1987Legislature 25
ActiveProjectsApprovedbythe1989Legislature 27
ActiveProjectsApprovedbythe1991 Legislature 30
LISTOFTABLES
Table1. ProjectRecommendations,FiscalYears 1994-95 4
Table2. FundingInformationforProjectsAuthorizedin 1987, 1989,and1991 36
LISTOFFIGURES
Figure1. LocationofProjectsRecommendedforFunding 5
Figure2. ApplicationsbyKindofApplicant 23
APPENDED PROJECTEVALUATIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONS
ThisappendixisavailableuponrequestfromtheDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandConservation,
ConservationandResourceDevelopmentDivision.
C2H=S23E3E
INDEXOF PROJECTS SUBMITTED FORFUNDING INTHE
1994-1995 BIENNIUM
Followingisalistofprojectssubmittedforfundinginthe1994-1995biennium. Foreasyreference,the
listisalphabetizedbythenamesoftheprojectsponsors. However,inChapterIItheprojectsummariesand
recommendationsarepresentedintheorderoftheirrankingbytheDepartmentofNaturalResourcesand
Conservation.
APPLICANTNAME—ProjectTitle
Page
BROADWATERCONSERVATIONDISTRICT—WhitesGulchPlacer
MineReclamationProject 10
BUTTE-SILVERBOW—DevelopmentofaMineSubsidence
InsuranceProgram 19
BUTTE-SILVERBOW—MitigationofMiningandSmelting
DamageThroughUrbanForestry 18
CARBONCOUNTYCONSERVATIONDISTRICT—RC&DsAffecting
ChangeThroughLocalLeadership 12
COLUMBUSANDJOLIET,TOWNSOF—WasteStream
—
Reduction OilRecycling 11
CROWTRIBE—LodgeGrassSchool,CoalMine
andGravelPitReclamation 19
DEERLODGEVALLEYCONSERVATIONDISTRICT—Developing
Acid/HeavyMetal-TolerantCultivarsforMineReclamation 15
FISH,WILDLIFEANDPARKS,MONTANADEPARTMENTOF—Elk
CreekPlacer-MinedChannelReconstruction 11
GALLATINCOUNTYROADANDBRIDGEDEPARTMENT—West
GallatinRiver,FloodControl 20
GLACIERCOUNTYCONSERVATIONDISTRICT—Comprehensive
EvaluationofGroundwaterContamination,RedRiverDrainage 15
GOVERNOR/LIEUTENANTGOVERNOR'SOFFICES—TheMontana
OfficeofPublicPolicyDisputeResolution 8
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Page
HEALTHANDENVIRONMENTALSCIENCES,MONTANA
DEPARTMENTOF/WATERQUALITYBUREAU—Nonpoint
SourcePollutionControlinMontana 13
HOTSPRINGS,TOWNOF—CamasTherapyCenter 18
JEFFERSONVALLEYCONSERVATIONDISTRICT—Crystal
MineRemediationTechnologyDemonstration 14
MONTANABOARDOFOILANDGASCONSERVATION—CatCreek
PluggingandReclamationProject 8
MONTANABOARDOFOILANDGASCONSERVATION—
Kevin-SunburstPluggingandReclamationProject 7
MONTANABUREAUOFMINESANDGEOLOGY—AcidMine
DrainagePrevention,Control,andTreatment
TechnologyDevelopmentfortheStockett/SandCouleeArea 14
MONTANASALINITYCONTROLASSOCIATION—SoilandWater
NonpointSourcePollutionControlandManagement 12
MONTANASTATEUNIVERSITY/PLACES—SoilMoistureModeling
inReclaimedLandscapes 21
NATURALRESOURCESANDCONSERVATION,MONTANA
DEPARTMENTOF/WATERMANAGEMENTBUREAU—ArsenicTransport
andMobilityinSurfaceWater,IrrigatedSoils,andShallowGroundwater
oftheUpperMissouriRiverBasin 16
PONDERACOUNTYCONSERVATIONDISTRICT—LakeFrancis
ShorelineRehabilitationProject 21
RAVALLICOUNTY—ALakeforBetterWaterQuality
(ComoLakeDamRehabilitation) 17
RICHLANDCOUNTYCONSERVATIONDISTRICT—Water
DevelopmentandManagement(NeutronProbe) 22
SHERIDANCOUNTYCONSERVATIONDISTRICT—Extentof
OilFieldWasteContaminationinLakesandAquifersinEasternSheridanCounty 22
STATELANDS,MONTANADEPARTMENTOF—WellAssessment
andAbandonment,OilandGas 9
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Page
STATELANDS,MONTANADEPARTMENTOF/HARDROCKBUREAU—
ExpansionoftheGeographicInformationSystemoftheDepartmentofStateLands 20
TOOLECOUNTY—NorthTooleCountyOilFieldReclamationProject 10
VALLEYCOUNTY—FortPeckReservoirBreakwater 16
WALKERVILLE,TOWNOF—WalkervilleReclamationProject 9
32E3
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CHAPTER
I
PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONAND PROCEDURES
ProgramInformation
TheReclamationandDevelopmentGrantsProgram(RDGP)isastate-fundedgrantprogram
designedtofundprojectsthat "indemnifythepeopleofthestatefortheeffectsofmineraldevelopmenton
publicresourcesandthatmeetothercrucialstateneedsservingthepublicinterestandthetotalenvironment
ofthecitizensofMontana"(Section90-2-1102,MCA). Theprogram,establishedbythe1987Montana
Legislature,isadministeredbytheMontanaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandConservation(DNRC).
InFebruary1992,DNRCmailedapplicationmaterialstoallMontanacommunities,counties,the
universitysystem,conservationdistricts,stateagencies,statelegislators,andotherswhomightbenefitby
programparticipation. TheapplicationdeadlinewasMay15, 1992. DNRCreceived29applicationsfor
RDGPfundingtotalingnearly$6.5million.
ThefundingsourceforthisprogramistheinterestincomefromtheResourceIndemnityTrust
Fund(RITF). Thisfund,establishedbySection15-38-201,MCA,receivesproceedsfromtaxesleviedon
mineralproduction. The1987MontanaLegislaturedirectedthat,beginninginstatefiscalyear1990,
46percentoftheinterestincomefromRITFmustbeallocatedtotheReclamationandDevelopment
GrantsAccount(approximately$7.85millionforthe1994-1995biennium). Duringstatefiscalyears1986
through1993,87projectstotalingmorethan$14.9millionhavebeenauthorizedforfunding.
TheReclamationandDevelopmentGrantsProgramActrequiresthatthegovernorsubmit,bythe
firstdayofeachregularsessionofthelegislature,alistofallgrantproposalsreceivedwithhisorherrecom-
mendedprioritiesforfunding. AdministrativerulesfurtherprovidethatDNRCmustfurnishtothelegisla-
tureastatusreportonpreviouslyfundedprojects. Thisreportistheresultofthosedirectives.
ProjectEligibility
ThefollowingexcerptsfromtheReclamationandDevelopmentGrantsProgramAct(Section90-2-
1112,MCA)establishcriteriathatprojectsmustmeetinordertobeeligibleforfunding.
(1) Exceptasprovidedundersubsection(2),tobeeligibleforfundingundertheReclamationand
DevelopmentGrantsProgram,theproposedprojectmustprovidebenefitsinoneormoreofthe
followingcategories:
(a) reclamationofland,water,orotherresourcesadverselyaffectedbymineraldevebpment;
(b) mitigationofdamagetopublicresourcescausedbymineraldevelopment;
(c) research,demonstration,ortechnicalassistancetopromotethewiseuseofMontanaminerals,
includingeffortstomakeprocessingmoreenvironmentallycompatible;
.
(d) investigationandremediationofsiteswherehazardouswastesorregulatedsubstancesthreaten
publichealthortheenvironment;and
(e) researchtoassessexistingorpotentialenvironmentaldamageresultingfrommineraldevelopment.
(2) Ifsufficienteligibleandqualifiedapplicationssatisfyingthemineraldevelopmentobjectivesprovided
forinsubsection(1)arenotreceivedorifthereisacrucialstateneedthedepartment[DNRC]may
evaluateandthegovernormayrecommendthatthelegislatureapprovefundingforprojectsthat:
(a) enhanceMontana'seconomythroughthedevelopmentofnaturalresources;or
(b) develop,promote,protect,orfurtherMontana'stotalenvironmentandpublicinterest,including
thegeneralhealth,safety,welfare,andpublicresourcesofMontanacitizensandcommunities.
ApplicantEligibility
Anydepartment,agency,board,commission,orotherdivisionofstategovernmentoranycity,
county,orotherpoliticalsubdivisionortribalgovernmentwithinthestatemayapplyforagrantfromthe
ReclamationandDevelopmentGrantsProgram.
FundingLimits
Nograntmayexceed$300,000. Anapplicantproposingmorethanoneprojectmaysubmita
separateapplicationforeach. Thereisnominimumfundinglimit.
ApplicationReviewandRankingProcedures
Thegrantapplicationswereevaluatedfortheproposedprojects'technicalandfinancialfeasibility,
publicbenefitstobeprovided,needandurgency,andimpactsontheenvironment. Reviewersincluded
staffmembersofthedepartment'sResourceDevelopment,ConservationDistricts,andWaterManagement
Bureaus,withassistancefromfederal,state,anduniversitypersonnelhavingexpertiseinspecificproject
areas. Foreachapplication,adescriptiveprojectsummarywaswrittenincorporatingtheconcerns,ideas,
andcommentsoftheprojectreviewers;thosesummariesappearintheAppendixtothisreport. Aless
detaileddescriptionofeachproposedprojectcanbefoundinChapterII.
Morefundsarerequestedthanareavailable. Therefore,thedepartmentranksfeasibleprojects,so
thatitcanrecommendfundingpriorityandfundingleveltothegovernor. Evaluationcriteriaestablishedby
the1987legislatureinclude,butarenotlimitedto:
1 Thedegreetowhichtheprojectwillprovidebenefitsinitseligibilitycategoryorcategories
2. Thedegreetowhichtheprojectwillprovidepublicbenefits
3. Thedegreetowhichtheprojectwillpromote,enhance,oradvancethepoliciesandpurposes
oftheReclamationandDevelopmentGrantsProgram
4. Thedegreetowhichtheprojectwillprovidefortheconservationofnaturalresources
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