The Evans Construction proposal to expand a gravel pit in the Etna area has been tabled until the January 2010 Lincoln County Planning and Zoning meeting.

The applicant requested the proposal be tabled in light of public interest in the project.  According to John Woodward, planning director for Lincoln County, the gravel pit proposal called for a conditional use permit from Lincoln County.

“There has been a gravel pit in that location since the mid 70s,” said Woodward. “It is a 10-acre pit that falls under DEQ rules.”

Once a gravel pit exceeds 10-acres, Woodward said, the applicant must have a small mining permit in place from the state. In order to get that state permit, however, the applicant must first have the necessary county permits in place.

Evans Construction applied for a conditional use permit from Lincoln County Planning and Zoning in October. The county received extensive public comment with regards to the project and Evans Construction requested the project be tabled until Jan. 27, 2010.

According to Woodward, the county does allow a one-time table request from an applicant. A request to table an application must be submitted at least three days prior to the scheduled public hearing relating to the project.

The public hearing for the gravel pit was slated for Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 in Cokeville. While Lincoln County Planning and Zoning will meet that night, the Etna gravel pit application will not be on the meeting agenda.

The proposal calls for expanding the existing gravel pit, located approximately a half mile south of Nordic Ranches on the east side of U.S. Highway 89, to 54 acres. The state would require that expansion of the pit take place only 10 acres at a time, Woodward said.

The gravel pit expansion would allow for processing sand and gravel, producing asphalt hot mix and batching.

Woodward anticipates the applicant will schedule a public informational meeting regarding the project prior to the Jan. 27 hearing. Lincoln County Planning and Zoning will continue to accept public comment with regards to the project.

For additional information on the proposed expansion of the Etna gravel pit, contact County Planning Director John Woodward at 885-3106.