The gravel pit has sat exposed since mid-July while an environmental group pursues a legal challenge, and weeds and other issues have Elbow Lake residents concerned.
The court found that DEQ had granted a dryland opencut permit without confirming whether surface and groundwater could be polluted or how many residents could be affected within a half-mile of the gravel pit.
A Missoula County judge will decide by Friday whether a new gravel pit near Elbow Lake and the Clearwater Game Range can continue operations while the pit is being challenged.
Arlee residents battling a proposed gravel pit have scored one thing few other Montana communities get anymore: an environmental assessment. But the assessment’s conclusions don’t go in their favor.