Private Lands
Our goal is to ensure that human development patterns and use are compatible with fish and wildlife habitat needs, preserve open space and scenic vistas, and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors.
We are working to...
- Insure that subdivision regulations, preserve open space, scenic vistas and important habitat.
- Identify and prioritize critical private lands in the county, and advocate for easement acquisition and/or purchase where appropriate.
- Reduce or eliminate the possibility of coal bed methane development in Park County; insure at a minimum, the implementation of environmentally sensitive coal bed methane policies.
Park County Growth Policy Plan - Park County adopted its Growth Policy Plan (GP) in the summer of 2006. Shortly thereafter, private property activists collected petition signatures to have the plan placed on the ballot for a vote, a process allowed by law. At this time, because the GP is to be voted upon, it cannot be implemented. The law requires it to be on the ballot during a general or primary election - June 2008, is the next primary election. In the interim, no county initiated zoning may be created nor can existing county zoning be amended. Additionally, there is no vision for future growth to be referenced in development decisions. For the time being, only subdivision regulations guide subdivision review.
East Interchange Lawsuit - In an effort to preserve Park County's rural character and agricultural open space, while preventing further strip-development along Interstate 90 that detracts from the viability of Livingston's downtown business community, PCEC initiated – with the City of Livingston, and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition – a lawsuit challenging an agricultural-to-commercial county zoning change made in violation of a city-county development agreement. A new city and county task force was created to help draft a “neighborhood plan” that will guide growth in the "donut" area surrounding Livingston. This plan was incorporated into the new county Growth Policy Plan.
Coal Bed Methane Development – In the Fall of 2006, a court settlement was achieved between J.M Huber Company and residents of Gallatin County. The Company settled in favor of local residents and ceded its claims in the Bozeman Pass area. So, for now, no CBM exploration will occur in the area.Burlington Northern Pollution Cleanup
PCEC was awarded an EPA Technical Assistance Grant that we administer as part of our ongoing effort to oversee the cleanup of a polluted aquifer beneath the Burlington Northern Rail Yard, which lies adjacent to the Yellowstone River in Livingston.
Volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, and petroleum by-products have contaminated the soil and groundwater at this site (which has been designated as a Superfund Site). PCEC's technical consultant monitors the activities of BNSF and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to insure that they are adhering to cleanup protocols and notifies us of violations so that we can alert the public as well as the agencies involved.
Information from the EPA: EPA- BN Cleanup in Livingston, MT
Information from Montana DEQ:
Burlington Northern Livingston Shop Complex CECRA Facility
