Our mission is to safeguard Montana communities, waterways, and ecosystems from the environmental threats posed by expedited permits for opencut gravel mines.
We advocate for citizen participation and government accountability, challenging the Montana Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) practices that neglect consideration of groundwater and drinking well contamination, asphalt plant emissions, conflicts with wildlife, noise pollution, visual impacts, threats to public health, and decreased local property values.
Protect The Clearwater is a nonpartisan grassroots nonprofit founded in 2023. We are challenging Montana DEQ’s actions as violations of the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), the Montana Public Participation Act and the Montana Constitution .
Our team consists of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about protecting Montana’s environment and special places for future generations.
Elk herds are an iconic sight in Western Montana, charming residents and attracting tourists and hunters alike. A Greenough resident spotted this herd on February 13, directly across from the Blackfoot Clearwater Wildlife Management Area and adjacent to a proposed gravel mine at mile marker 3 on Hwy 83. A stone’s throw from the Clearwater River and Elbow Lake, this is one stop on a westerly migration route used by elk, grizzly bears, grey wolves, and lynx.
On Monday, April 7th at 1:30, Judge Leslie Halligan heard oral arguments in the case filed by Protect the Clearwater against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The courtroom seats were full with some folks standing to listen.
Our attorneys argued that the DEQ failed in its’ duty to provide an opportunity for public input, did not take a “hard-look” at evidence to prevent harm to the environment, and that because the mine site is located near the lake and river, and may actually not be a "dry-land" operation at all.
The DEQ argued that they did not have time to release a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for public comment, that animals affected by mining would “go somewhere else”, and that the DEQ can rely on the mining company’s declaration that their operation will not affect ground and surface water.
The story was covered by the:
The Missoulian: https://missoulian.com/news/local/article_4d274510-0e35-4571-8496-86adf1e153f3.html
The Missoula Current: https://missoulacurrent.com/clearwater-gravel-pit-2/
The Helena Independent: https://helenair.com/news/state-regional/article_e54e0121-7562-5cca-88e9-10ed456b9465.html
The Seeley Lake Pathfinder: https://www.seeleylake.com/story/2025/04/17/news/back-to-court/10989.html
Protect The Clearwater has been selected to participate in the 2025 Seeley Lake Community Foundation (SLCF) Fundraiser, Change Your Pace Challenge. This means that all contributions received between May 1, 2025, and May 30, 2025, will be matched dollar for dollar up to $5,000.
Scan the QR code and donate today!!
On September 12th, PTC received notice that the Cinnabar Foundation board had voted to award a $6000 Tawney Opportunity Grant “to help your organization safeguard Montana communities, waterways, and ecosystems from the environmental threats pose by expedited permits for open cut gravel mines.” The funds will be used to support our legal efforts. Thanks to Riley Comstock, Baucus Climate Scholar, for his work on securing this grant.
In a surprising a 5-1 decision, BER rejected the hearing examiner’s recommendation that the BER rule against us, saying essentially that there was “insufficient information” for them to make that determination. (The hearing examiner is a DEQ employee that evaluates evidence about the permit process.)
The decision verifies what PTC has been saying all along - that the permitting process lacked proper notification of nearby property owners, inadequate review of risks to the Clearwater River, and did not include existing information about critical wildlife habitat.
BER Chairperson, David Simpson stated:
“This board has the responsibility to examine whether or not the department followed the law in issuing the permit. That’s our primary function but it’s not limited to that. We also have the responsibility to look at the substance of the decision that’s being made here under our responsibility under the Constitution. And I just can’t understand why we’re in a position of being asked to make a decision when we have virtually no information.”
See the documents section for full transcript of the ruling.
Look for a feature story in the spring issue of the Montana Quarterly Magazine on gravel mining in Montana. Thank you to the Montana Quarterly and Laura Lundquist for sharing this story. The article can be found in the documents section on our website
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Protect the Clearwater
c/o Citizens Bank
P.O. Box 720
Seeley Lake, MT 59868
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