County staff told the Crook County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 30 that the county faces an urgent deadline after its previous septage land-application contractor gave notice.

"They sent some termination notice effective Christmas Eve of this year," a county staff member said. The county's prior contractor, 2 Springs Ranch, will not continue to land-apply septage after Dec. 24, and staff said they must identify a new land-application site and complete permit paperwork quickly to avoid a service interruption. A county official said the minimum acreage needed is roughly 400 acres, with irrigated ground requiring less acreage because of higher nitrogen uptake.

Staff reported meeting with Muck Septic (the local operator under consideration) and said Muck has equipment and capacity but has struggled to find a willing landowner. The county reviewed land around the landfill previously approved in the early 2000s but said the available parcels are piecemeal and insufficient for expected volumes.

A Department of Environmental Quality representative, Carl Makepeace, walked the landfill site and told staff he would attempt to fast-track the permit if the county supplies complete application materials quickly. Staff characterized the timeline as tight: they said DEQ indicated a mid- to early-November deadline to have materials ready for fast-tracking and that the goal is to submit for DEQ approval in time to be permitted by Dec. 24.

Commissioners discussed how application volumes vary depending on crop type and irrigation, and staff described on-site storage and screening infrastructure the county already owns. The county also said 2 Springs had offered to donate two storage tanks and that a tractor and spreader were available for sale for $50,000 if a private operator chooses to purchase them.

Staff asked for the board's blessing to continue negotiations with Muck Septic and local landowners. Commissioners indicated they want staff to move quickly and report back; staff said they would try to have proposal details ready the following week so permit applications could be submitted in time.