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County approves contract to accept $4 million from state Natural Resource Damage program for Anaconda Uplands restoration
Summary
The Anaconda Deer Lodge County Commission approved a contract with the State of Montana Natural Resource Damage Program to establish an Anaconda Uplands Restoration Plan and to serve as a vehicle to receive an NRD allocation of $4,000,000 for revegetation and reforestation; specific projects and bids will return to NRD and the commission for approval.
The Anaconda Deer Lodge County Commission voted to approve a contract with the State of Montana Natural Resource Damage (NRD) Program to establish an Anaconda Uplands Restoration Plan and enable the county to receive NRD funds allocated for reclamation work.
The county’s chief executive officer, Everett, told commissioners the contract is “pretty simple” and functions as a vessel to accept funding. “We’ve been allocated $4,000,000 from the NRD for revegetation, reforestation for our hillsides. This helps put it in place,” Everett said.
The contract, as presented, does not decide which specific projects will be carried out or how the funds will be spent. Everett and staff stressed that project-level decisions will be made by the NRD and returned to the commission for formal approval. Once priorities are set, procurement steps—including issuing bids and accepting contractors—will come before the commission again.
County counsel had no additional comment during the discussion. Commissioners indicated support for the approach, moved and seconded the contract approval, and the chair called the vote; the motion passed.
Next steps described by staff include NRD approval of specific restoration activities, competitive bidding for work, and future commission approvals of contracts and work plans. No timeline for individual projects beyond that sequencing was set at the meeting.
