Recent media coverage and television reporting have created confusion about the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) role in reviewing elements of the Gallatin Canyon Sewer Project. As clarified by the District and its engineering team, DEQ’s June 2025 action was not approval of the project, nor authorization to build. It was a limited, highly technical design deviation determination, requested during project design to evaluate whether two pipelines could safely be placed in a single trench under constrained site conditions.
This type of engineering review is a necessary step before final design, permitting, environmental review, and construction decisions can occur. Addressing these questions early helps ensure projects are technically feasible and financially responsible before additional public resources are committed.
As Board Member Al Malinowski discussed technical design deviation requests:
“There has to be a process for resolving those questions before a project moves forward. We have been transparent with the community for years, and public involvement is critical — but working through technical engineering details early prevents wasted effort and unnecessary cost.”
Board Chair Brian Wheeler added:
“It would have been fiscally reckless not to proceed the way we did, but it’s also frustrating to see this portrayed as environmentally irresponsible — when the opposite is true. This project is about protecting the canyon. Suggesting otherwise was misleading and disappointing.”
The broader Gallatin Canyon Sewer Project has been discussed openly for more than six years through public forums, publicly noticed meetings, and the 2022 Environmental Assessment process. The project continues to be reviewed in open meetings, and at no point has it advanced without public visibility. Any future phase would still require additional permitting, environmental review, and opportunities for public comment before moving forward.