A Coeur d'Alene mining and paving company is seeking to replace its expiring permit to operate a restricted surface mine and asphalt batch near Athol.

Todd Kaufman, owner of Coeur d'Alene Paving, assured that the 20-acre site is now used only for mining, and hasn't included a batch plant for two years.

"It just gives us another option to get rock," Kaufman said.

The company will go before the Kootenai County hearing examiner on Jan. 19 to request another 5-year conditional use permit for the site, 3989 East Highway 54.

According to the project narrative, the company works one day a week at the rock pit on the site, when needed for local work.

Because the Idaho Transportation Department has improved U.S. 95 over the past several years, the document states, the pit's location is useful as a rock and asphalt source.

"It more serves the local people when they need rock for their driveways," Kaufman noted. "They don't have to pay to truck it from downtown."

This is a different site than the Rathdrum location where an asphalt plant operated by the company has garnered public opposition.

The Athol site has been permitted for mining operations since the late '80s, according to the narrative.

Coeur d'Alene Paving took over operation at the property in 2005, and received an approved conditional use permit in 2007 allowing for restricted surface mining and the operation of an asphalt batch plant within the rock pit.

The last asphalt batch plant at the site was removed in 2009, Kaufman said, and transferred to property off Highway 53.

"We just want to keep it in the same condition and how it's working now," Kaufman said, adding that the company is requesting the same CUP conditions as in the original permit. "The work is going to continue as it has for 25 or 30 years."

The hearing before the examiner will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 19 in meeting room 1 in the county administration building.