USA: Great Falls development officials have proposed a land transfer they hope will clear the way for construction of a railroad needed to serve International Malting Co.'s new malt-processing plant north of Great Falls. If everything goes as planned, construction on the railroad could begin as soon as November, John Kramer of the Great Falls Development Authority said on September 27. "Everybody wants to see this getting done; everybody realizes the importance of getting the rail spur done," he said.
The land transfer still faces an environmental review, public comment and action by the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission. The 4.5-mile rail line, which IMC officials have said is vital for operation of the plant, will be used to ship barley into the plant and finished product out of the plant.
The $60 million plant is scheduled to open next spring. It is expected to employ 35 people, The Great Falls Tribunes posted on September 28. The plant will require about 11 million bushels (0.24 million metric tonnes) of barley each year and will produce about 12 million bushels (0.185 million metric tonnes) of malt.
A legal snag discovered last month had threatened to delay construction of the rail line for several months. Part of the rail line must cross land protected by a state-owned conservation easement, just north of the Missouri River. The easement forbids any development on the land.
Earlier this month, state officials said the Development Authority had to find some additional land to exchange for use of the protected land. The authority plans to build and finance the railroad spur.
Kramer said Monday, September 27 the authority is arranging to buy 20 additional acres that adjoin the protected land and have those acres placed under the same protection. The 20 acres would be added to the 2,400 acres of protected land that is owned by PPL Montana and stretches along the north bank of the Missouri River.
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