County, HDR consultants kick off feasibility study for biomass/MSW energy site; target ~100 tons/day

Lincoln County commissioners and consultants from HDR met Jan. 21 for a kickoff of a feasibility study to evaluate a proposed biomass and municipal solid-waste processing facility that could generate electricity, reduce waste transport and help manage forest fuels.

HDR project lead Zack Mason told commissioners the team is collecting site and feedstock data and will use that information to recommend technology and siting options. "We're targeting something that does at least 100 tons a day," Mason said, framing that figure as a minimal throughput likely to make a small‑scale facility feasible.

The meeting focused on three kinds of sites: county-owned port land with existing transmission infrastructure, landfill sites in Libby and Eureka, and private properties such as the former Stoken sawmill that a landowner has said could be made available. Commissioners noted the port holds roughly 74.78 acres set aside for industrial use and that the port has substantial water rights; HDR estimated a smaller plant footprint could be 5–10 acres, while preprocessing needs could push that toward 20 acres.

Consultants and county staff discussed Libby-area air-quality sensitivities tied to the community's Libby amphibole asbestos history and the need to include the right regulatory language in procurement. HDR said best‑available control technologies (for example, scrubbers) can substantially reduce particulate emissions, but that introducing MSW feedstock raises different emissions considerations because of metals and plastics.

County staff reported current hauling from Eureka includes about three 40‑yard roll‑off trucks per day, five days a week, and that private compactor loads also move material to the Libby landfill. HDR and commissioners agreed that local feedstock logistics — how to compensate loggers or require that wood product from county projects be routed to a facility instead of the landfill — will be central to feasibility and economics.

The HDR team outlined a schedule: site evaluation and baseline flow analysis through March, with final feasibility reports targeted by the end of September to enable any subsequent procurement. HDR will arrange site tours (including existing MSW/biomass installations and a Stoltz facility in Kalispell) and requested county datasets (aerial maps, haul rates, and water/wastewater utility details). County staff agreed to provide contact information for Kathy Hooper (health/air-quality contact) and to circulate stewardship‑agreement documents involving the Forest Service, the port and the county.

Next steps include HDR-led site visits, collection of detailed feedstock and utility data, initial air‑quality maps and monthly follow-up meetings. "We'll throw all of our notes in here," Mason said; the team will list action items and highlight requested county clarifications as part of the kickoff deliverable.

The feasibility work will inform whether the county pursues a county-operated facility, a private partner model, or a hybrid approach. HDR said public and private funding sources will be cataloged for future grant and partnership work. The team plans to present interim findings after data collection and prior to any RFQ/RFP issuance.