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Employing a certified industrial hygienist while constructing an RV campground seems like it could raise a red flag or two. But that\u2019s what the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks is proposing in its plans to add 16 RV sites with electric hookups on top of an old gun range at Makoshika State Park, just outside Glendive in eastern Montana.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n An environmental assessment detailing how the estimated 1,750 cubic yards of lead-laced soils could be appropriately excavated, is combined with the park\u2019s plans to also add four primitive hike\/bike campsites, day-use facilities, a campsite for park hosts, latrines and a dinosaur-themed playground.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe project design has not been finalized as we are currently accepting public comments which may alter the project,\u201d said Brian Burky, Region 7 park manager, in an email last month. \u201cThat being said, the project concept is estimated to cost between $3.4 million and $4.4 million.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Montana\u2019s largest state park<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Makoshika is a relatively big draw in a less frequently visited part of Montana. Between 2019 and 2023, the park averaged more than 112,000 visitors a year \u2013 peaking in 2021 before steadily declining.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe park currently provides 19 tent camping sites and nine RV sites,\u201d according to the assessment. \u201cMuch of the day use visitation is associated with hiking, picnicking and sightseeing. Non-resident visitation primarily occurs during the peak summer season of Memorial Day through Labor Day, while shoulder seasons see a greater percentage of local traffic. Campsites, especially RV sites, are typically full during peak season.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Known for its rugged badland formations and dinosaur fossils excavated from the clay soils, it is the largest state park in Montana \u2013 more than 11,500 acres.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In the 1930s, the residents of Dawson County envisaged the area as Badlands National Park, but the National Park Service said the location was \u201cnot of national significance.\u201d Still, the locals kept the land undeveloped and hoped.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Since 1953, when the state has donated the land to manage as a state park, several improvements have been added \u2013 including trails, a visitor center and outdoor amphitheatre, along with improvements to roads, the park\u2019s archery range and the addition of two disc golf courses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n RV use growing across U.S.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The proposal for RV campsites was made because \u201cRVs and camp trailers cannot travel to the (29) primitive campsites above the switchback because the road grade is too steep and large vehicles are not permitted,\u201d the environmental assessment noted.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The park has also received \u201cnumerous visitor and local public comments\u201d about increasing overnight visitation to the park, along with providing sites that offer electricity and water hookups.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n About 8 million households own a recreational vehicle with one estimate doubling that figure in the next five years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The ability to accommodate more RVs at Makoshika is also expected to generate greater revenue for the county.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn fiscal year 2024, FWP paid over $6,500 in accommodation taxes to Dawson County for overnight stays at Makoshika State Park,\u201d the assessment said. \u201cThis amount is expected to increase by about $5,100 per year after the Makoshika campground expansion project.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Eastern Montana\u2019s tourism industry has been boosting efforts to recruit visitors to the region as the western third of the state has become more crowded.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMakoshika currently provides remarkable opportunities for residents and visitors alike to get outside and enjoy expansive views, solitude and the badlands of eastern Montana,\u201d FWP wrote.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Touting its dark skies for star viewing, fossil dig sites and access to amenities like the Yellowstone River, tourism advocates have been helped by the state, which has invested in access sites to the Yellowstone River and upgrades to amenities for visitors, like campsites and boat launches.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Across Montana, visits to state parks have dropped a bit from record highs in 2021 and 2022 \u2013 years that saw more than 3.2 million visitors. In 2023, the last year for which numbers have been posted, 3.1 million people visited state parks.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n With the exception of state parks surrounding Flathead Lake, the top-visited ones are in or next to the state\u2019s largest communities, led by Giant Springs in Great Falls with more than half a million in 2023.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Getting the lead out<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Makoshika\u2019s former gun range, appropriately situated below Gunners Ridge, was chosen for an RV campground because it\u2019s the only large enough flat area in the deeply incised badlands.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The site hasn\u2019t been used as a shooting range since 2008, but lead from bullets fired at targets has built up over 40 years of intermittent use.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe historic locations of the shooting shed, bench, and closest targets (pistol\/shotgun) are within the footprint of the proposed campground expansion,\u201d according to the environmental assessment. \u201cThe historic locations of rifle targets are outside of the proposed campground footprint. Also, importantly, there is no surface water present on the affected site to impact lead distribution in the affected area.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Given concerns about lead dust contamination of the soil, FWP is making it a \u201ctop priority\u201d to analyze and mitigate any \u201cpotential public health threats.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cUnder no circumstances would FWP approve the proposed project until the affected site has been adequately assessed and lead impacts mitigated to a level deemed safe for public use,\u201d the assessment said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A company with expertise in mitigation, HydroSolutions based in Great Falls, has already conducted site sampling.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cInitial laboratory analytical results from soil screening completed in July 2023 identified localized areas containing elevated concentrations of lead in soil (ranging from about 300 to 960 parts per million,\u201d the assessment stated.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n That led to a follow-up investigation which identified an area of about 37,500 square feet where 15 inches of soil would be removed to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards for 200 parts per million of lead.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, the soil will likely be classified as hazardous waste, requiring FWP to find a properly qualified landfill willing to accept the soil for disposal.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n