E-Malt.com News article: 2497

USA: International Malting Co. could pay a total of $280,000 a year to lease water from Giant Springs Fish Hatchery for use in its multi-million-dollar facility north of Great Falls, The Great Falls Tribune posted on April 14. The malting company would pay $125,000 a year for water, another $125,000 a year for infrastructure at the hatchery and an additional $30,000 to compensate for changes made in hatchery operations.

Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission during a meeting in Bozeman will discuss the lease agreement. Rep. George Golie, D-Great Falls, believes the agreement is unfair and is asking the commission to turn down the deal. "I'm really concerned about the rate they are getting for the water," said Golie, who also is vice-chairman of the House Fish and Game Committee.

Based on the proposed lease, IMC will pay $125,000 a year for water and receive about 1.7 million gallons a day. IMC would then pay about 26 cents per 100 cubic feet of water, Golie said. The commercial rate in Great Falls is 92 cents per 100 cubic feet. The residential rate is $1.24 per 100 cubic feet for water use over 300 cubic feet. "At the very minimum IMC should pay the commercial rate," Golie said.

Gary Bertellotti, state hatchery bureau chief, said the FWP looked at other water leases around the state and worked on a comparable agreement for the untreated water. Because the malting company also is contributing for infrastructure and changes in hatchery operations, the total yearly lease is for $280,000, he said.

"The money that will be received from this lease will go back into fisheries, making fishing better for the public," he said. Bertellotti said the $125,000 for infrastructure is important because the state's hunting and fishing community paid for the improvements at the hatchery. "It's not fair to have it used freely by other individuals," he said.

The malting plant will use barley to make malt for beer and other food products. The plant, which will be built in phases with the ultimate capacity at 16 million bushels per year, needs a maximum of 1,200 gallons per minute of water. The malting process consumes about 20 % of the water, and about 80 % will be released into the city sewer system and discharged back into the Missouri River.


16 April, 2004