A private septic service company is seeking state approval to use a West Valley property for the disposal of septage on agricultural fields.

Ready Freddy Inc. is looking to use 50 acres of private property at 940 Clark Drive to apply septage pumped from septic tanks or other primary treatment sources.

The state Department of Environmental Quality has published a draft Environmental Assessment regarding the application and is taking public comment on the proposal.

Septage is the liquid and solid material removed from a septic tank. Septage has already undergone primary treatment that reduces bacteria and other pathogens prior to land application, where remaining pathogens are destroyed by sunlight or the application of lime, according to the state agency.

The department reviews and licenses septic tank pumpers and assesses applications for proposed land application sites according to requirements in state administrative rules. These rules include requirements related to site access as well as setbacks to surface water, residences, groundwater wells and steep topography.

Ready Freddy already holds a license from the state agency to pump and apply septage in Montana, and is currently approved for land application on one site in Flathead County. The proposal is to add the Clark Drive property to the license.

The site is currently used to grow wheat and canola, and has some areas of grazing pasture grass.

The site is proposed to be divided into two 25-acre parcels for the rotation and production of wheat and canola. The south side of the field would be used for land application this year and the north side used in 2024.

A private drive would be used to access the site via the main entrance located on the east end of the field off West Valley Drive.

State officials examined two alternatives — under the first the site would not be used and for the proposed action the site would be utilized for septage application.

Under the proposed action, land application would be limited to areas approved by the state department. Ready Freddy would also be required to log the type and amount of pumpings land applied annually as well as the dates applied.

The impact to wildlife as a result of the application would be minor, state officials noted, because wildlife tends to avoid sites due to human scent and activities. There would be a minor benefit to the soil as a result of the proposal.

A minor impact from traffic is expected and a minor impact to aesthetics and noise are expected as land application activities resemble agricultural and commercial activities occuring in the surrounding area.

The septage application, state officials noted, would not impact surface or groundwater.

Department staff prepared a draft assessment in compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act to analyze the potential impacts of the proposal. After the comment period closes, the state environmental agency will review comments and make a final decision on the application.

Public comment closes June 16, and comments can be submitted electronically or by mail. To view the draft assessment or to submit comment, visit the Department of Environmental Quality website at: https://deq.mt.gov/public/publiccomment.

Features Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].