The Department of Environmental Quality drafted an environmental assessment for a motor vehicle wrecking facility in Missoula County, and officials are seeking public comment on the proposal.
The proposed wrecking facility would be near the airport on a 17-acre parcel in Missoula County.
"We have a lot of other wrecking yards out in Missoula. Missoula's got a pretty big population so, obviously we have a lot of cars out there. And what these facilities offer is a way of getting rid of these vehicles for people that no longer want them. And some of these operations, they will actually sell car parts, so that gives kind of a cheap local supply for car parts," said Brady Christiansen, materials management with the DEQ.
The public comment period closes on Feb. 28.
Comments can be submitted here.
The Montana DEQ released the following information:
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has published a draft environmental assessment (EA) for Whippoorwill Salvage regarding the licensing of a motor vehicle wrecking facility (MVWF). The proposed wrecking facility would be in Missoula County within a fenced area on a 17-acre parcel in Missoula.
MVWFs are licensed to buy, sell, or deal in four or more vehicles per year to wreck or dismantle vehicles, deal in secondhand junk vehicles, and purchase wrecked vehicles from insurance companies. MVWF’s provide a commercial source of automotive parts at a cost savings to the consumer and recycle the metals in portions of vehicles not sold as parts. Reuse and recycling of vehicle parts helps to conserve energy and natural resources.
DEQ prepared a draft EA in compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act to analyze potential impacts of the proposal. There is a 30-day public comment period following the publication of the draft EA, after which DEQ will review comments and make a final decision on the application. The public comment period closes February 28, 2023, and comments can be submitted electronically or by mail. To view the draft EA or learn more about how to submit comments, please visit the DEQ website at: https://deq.mt.gov/public/publiccomment