Legal Notice Partial Bond Release and Comprehensive Bond Review for SPP Montana Rock, LLC (Hard Rock Mining Operating Permit No. 00167) The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has received a request for bond release from SPP Montana Rock, LLC (SPP). SPP is authorized to operate 17 rock product quarry sites under Operating Permit No. 00167. The sites are on located on property owned by SPP Montana, LLC, in eastern Flathead County and southwestern Lincoln County. The site locations are as follows: Griffin 13 Section 13, T28N, R25W Rock Herrig 15 Section 15, T28N, R25W Rock Tear Drop Section 29, T28N, R24W Rock Kavalla Ridge Section 13, T29N, R27W Kid Rock Sections 8 and 9, T29N, R26W Rail Road Rock N 8 Rockin Section 7, T30N, R26W; Section 12, T30N, R27W Sections 7 and 18, T29N, R26W; Section 13, T29N, R27W Thin Line Section 14, T29N, R27W Rock Rail Road Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18, T29N, R26W 1718 Rock Kavalla 15 Section 15, T29N, R27W Rock Loon Lake Section 27, T27N, R28W Rock Coniff 335 Rock Section 3, T28N, R26W; Sections 34 and 35, T29N, R26W Lake View Rock Sections 17 and 18, T28N, R24W; Section 13, T28N, R25W Loon Sections 26, 27 and 35, T27N, R28W Complex Billy Fritz Pass Section 33, T27N, R28W Rock McGinnis Rock Section 5, T26N, R28W Wolf 26 Mile Sections 21 and 28, T31N, R26W Rock DEQ is also conducting a comprehensive bond review for Operating Permit No. 00167. DEQ has determined that the current bonding level does not represent the present costs of compliance with the Metal Mine Reclamation Act, administrative rules adopted thereunder, and the operating permit. DEQ is proposing to increase the bond by $47,916. The bond increase is largely due to changes in fuel price, equipment rates, removal of nonmobile site equipment and updated indirect costs such as mobilization, contingency, and administration. In addition to the comprehensive bond review, DEQ is proposing to release $32,241 and retain $44,453 after both increasing the bond as a result of the comprehensive bond review and releasing bond for completed reclamation tasks. The bond release was requested by SPP for reclamation work completed at the Loon Lake Rock site and the Herrig 15 Rock site. The reclamation tasks completed include regrading and laying down soil on 0.5 acres at the Loon Lake Rock site and on 3.4 acres at the Herrig 15 Rock site. Additional reclamation includes revegetation of 4.3 acres on Loon Lake Rock site. SPP has also requested that five acres of bonded disturbance that had previously not been assigned to any site or disturbance be released as well. DEQ has determined the partial completion of reclamation, and removing the additional unused bonded disturbance, would decrease the currently required bond by $32,241, resulting in a required bond of $44,453. DEQ has determined the net effect on the bond from the increase as a result of the five-year comprehensive review ($47,916) and the release request ($32,241) is a bond increase of $15,675. The procedure for adjusting bonds as a result of a comprehensive bond review is set forth in Section 82-4-338(3), MCA. Pursuant to Section 82-4-338(5), Montana Code Annotated (MCA), DEQ may not release or decrease a reclamation bond until the public has been provided an opportunity for a hearing and a hearing has been held if requested. The permittee and the public will have until April 15, 2025, to comment on these proposed changes to the bond amount. DEQ will issue a final bond determination after the comment period has expired. The permittee, or any person with an interest that may be adversely affected by DEQ's final bond determination, may obtain a contested case hearing before the Board of Environmental Review. A written request for a hearing must be filed with DEQ within 30 days of the issuance of the final bond determination, stating the reason for the request. Requests for copies of the bond calculation associated with the comprehensive bond review, and any related questions should be directed to Millie Olsen, Hard Rock Mining Section Supervisor, Mining Bureau, Department of Environmental Quality, PO Box 200901, Helena, MT 59620-0901, by telephone at (406) 444-2461 or by e-mail at DEQHardRock@mt.gov. PULISHED IN The Western News March 14, 2025. MNAXLP Legal Notice Partial Bond Release and Comprehensive Bond Review for SPP Montana Rock , LLC ( Hard Rock Mining Operating Permit No. 00167 ) The Montana Department of Environmental Quality ( DEQ ) has received a request for bond release from SPP Montana Rock , LLC ( SPP ) . SPP is authorized to operate 17 rock product quarry sites under Operating Permit No. 00167. The sites are on located on property owned by SPP Montana , LLC , in eastern Flathead County and southwestern Lincoln County . The site locations are as follows : Griffin 13 Section 13 , T28N , R25W Rock Herrig 15 Section 15 , T28N , R25W Rock Tear Drop Section 29 , T28N , R24W Rock Kavalla Ridge Section 13 , T29N , R27W Kid Rock Sections 8 and 9 , T29N , R26W Rail Road Rock N 8 Rockin Section 7 , T30N , R26W ; Section 12 , T30N , R27W Sections 7 and 18 , T29N , R26W ; Section 13 , T29N , R27W Thin Line Section 14 , T29N , R27W Rock Rail Road Sections 7 , 8 , 17 and 18 , T29N , R26W 1718 Rock Kavalla 15 Section 15 , T29N , R27W Rock Loon Lake Section 27 , T27N , R28W Rock Coniff 335 Rock Section 3 , T28N , R26W ; Sections 34 and 35 , T29N , R26W Lake View Rock Sections 17 and 18 , T28N , R24W ; Section 13 , T28N , R25W Loon Sections 26 , 27 and 35 , T27N , R28W Complex Billy Fritz Pass Section 33 , T27N , R28W Rock McGinnis Rock Section 5 , T26N , R28W Wolf 26 Mile Sections 21 and 28 , T31N , R26W Rock DEQ is also conducting a comprehensive bond review for Operating Permit No. 00167. DEQ has determined that the current bonding level does not represent the present costs of compliance with the Metal Mine Reclamation Act , administrative rules adopted thereunder , and the operating permit . DEQ is proposing to increase the bond by $ 47,916 . The bond increase is largely due to changes in fuel price , equipment rates , removal of nonmobile site equipment and updated indirect costs such as mobilization , contingency , and administration . In addition to the comprehensive bond review , DEQ is proposing to release $ 32,241 and retain $ 44,453 after both increasing the bond as a result of the comprehensive bond review and releasing bond for completed reclamation tasks . The bond release was requested by SPP for reclamation work completed at the Loon Lake Rock site and the Herrig 15 Rock site . The reclamation tasks completed include regrading and laying down soil on 0.5 acres at the Loon Lake Rock site and on 3.4 acres at the Herrig 15 Rock site . Additional reclamation includes revegetation of 4.3 acres on Loon Lake Rock site . SPP has also requested that five acres of bonded disturbance that had previously not been assigned to any site or disturbance be released as well . DEQ has determined the partial completion of reclamation , and removing the additional unused bonded disturbance , would decrease the currently required bond by $ 32,241 , resulting in a required bond of $ 44,453 . DEQ has determined the net effect on the bond from the increase as a result of the five - year comprehensive review ( $ 47,916 ) and the release request ( $ 32,241 ) is a bond increase of $ 15,675 . The procedure for adjusting bonds as a result of a comprehensive bond review is set forth in Section 82-4-338 ( 3 ) , MCA . Pursuant to Section 82-4-338 ( 5 ) , Montana Code Annotated ( MCA ) , DEQ may not release or decrease a reclamation bond until the public has been provided an opportunity for a hearing and a hearing has been held if requested . The permittee and the public will have until April 15 , 2025 , to comment on these proposed changes to the bond amount . DEQ will issue a final bond determination after the comment period has expired . The permittee , or any person with an interest that may be adversely affected by DEQ's final bond determination , may obtain a contested case hearing before the Board of Environmental Review . A written request for a hearing must be filed with DEQ within 30 days of the issuance of the final bond determination , stating the reason for the request . Requests for copies of the bond calculation associated with the comprehensive bond review , and any related questions should be directed to Millie Olsen , Hard Rock Mining Section Supervisor , Mining Bureau , Department of Environmental Quality , PO Box 200901 , Helena , MT 59620-0901 , by telephone at ( 406 ) 444-2461 or by e - mail at DEQHardRock@mt.gov . PULISHED IN The Western News March 14 , 2025 . MNAXLP