Missoula County has heard from many residents regarding their concerns about a possible gravel mine in the Blackfoot River canyon east of Bonner. The webpage clarifies the County’s role and authority in this process.

What is a land use/zoning compliance permit?

In fall 2025, the landowner at the time submitted an application for a land use/zoning compliance permit to Missoula County regarding whether a gravel pit would be an allowed use on a parcel they planned to sell in the Blackfoot River canyon east of Bonner.

The purpose of a County land use/zoning compliance permit is simply to confirm if a proposed use is allowed on a particular parcel. The County issuing such a permit does not mean that the project is approved or moving forward. Any project would still be subject to applicable local, state or federal regulations and processes.   

If a land use/zoning compliance permit application meets all legal requirements, the County legally cannot deny it. There is no room for discretion. For this reason, there is no notification process for the commissioners or public. The County receives hundreds of these applications a year, for everything from a minor home addition to a major commercial enterprise.  

Because this specific property is unzoned, a gravel pit is a legally allowed use. The state Department of Environmental Quality, not Missoula County, is the agency with authority to approve or deny the operation.

Correspondence between the County and property owner

Though the County legally must confirm whether a use is allowed, the commissioners took the opportunity to inquire for more information by sending a letter to the applicant on Dec. 4.

The property owner replied on Dec. 12, stating they are in the early stages of developing plans and evaluating potential uses for the property and would not be able to provide the detailed information the County requested at this time.

The commissioners sent a response to the property owner on Dec. 23, confirming the property is unzoned but indicating this does not mean they agree with developing a gravel pit in this area.

The Dec. 23 letter also states the County has confirmed through further research that if the property owner does apply for a permit with DEQ, they will have to submit a new, separate zoning compliance form to the County. This form will require more information, including a detailed site map and operations plan. The County will still be legally required to confirm the property is unzoned and that a gravel pit is allowed, but this new documentation will hopefully provide more information about the proposed operation that would allow the County to determine next steps, such as whether interim zoning is warranted.

The Dec. 23 letter does not void the land use/zoning compliance permit or prevent the property owner from pursuing DEQ approval for a gravel pit.

What’s next?

For the project to move forward, the property owner will have to apply for a permit with DEQ. If DEQ receives an application for a mine at this site, it will be posted online following its initial review. Residents can also sign up online to receive email or text notifications of public comment opportunities.

As part of that process, the property owner will be required to submit a new, separate zoning compliance form to the County. This form will require more information, including a detailed site map and operations plan. The County will still be legally required to confirm the property is unzoned and that a gravel pit is allowed, but this new documentation will hopefully provide more information about the proposed operation that would allow the County to determine next steps, such as whether interim zoning is warranted.

Residents have requested for the commissioners to hold a public hearing. The County holds public hearings when there is a decision for the commissioners to make and vote on. At this point, there is no decision for the County. The property owner also has yet to submit an application to DEQ that would provide sufficient details on the proposed project, so the County does not have enough information at this time to determine the basis of an emergency that would potentially enable interim zoning.

Based on these factors, there is currently no plan for the County to schedule a public hearing specific to this issue. This could change if the property owner proceeds with an application to DEQ and more information becomes available.

However, Missoula County residents are always welcome to provide public comment on any topic at any of our regularly scheduled public meetings. Residents do not need to register or be invited to speak.

A schedule of meetings and how to attend them is available at missoula.co/bccmeetings.