The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) published a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for an application from Pacific Steel and Recycling for the construction of a landfill for auto shredder residue in Yellowstone County. The proposal includes approximately 90 acres within 320 acres of private property located at the corner of US Highway 87 and Shepard Acton Road, six miles west of Shepherd and seven miles north of Billings.
In the application, Pacific Steel and Recycling proposes to landfill approximately 25,000 tons of auto shredder residue per year from their Billings recycling facility. DEQ reviews and licenses solid waste management facilities and assesses applications according to the requirements in state administrative rules. These requirements include groundwater monitoring, stormwater controls, and operational standards. The application review and permitting process ensures that projects are protective of human health and the environment.
DEQ prepared the draft EA in compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act to analyze potential impacts of the proposal. There is a 10-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. Public comment closes Oct. 30, 2023, and comments can be submitted electronically or by mail.