Flathead County

About 100 people went to a hearing in Kalispell Tuesday in a lawsuit aimed at preventing a water bottling plant from producing and distributing its product.

A contested water bottling plant outside Kalispell has begun operating and distributing as Flathead County grapples with how to interpret new zoning regulations the plant’s opponents say should shut it down.

Montana Artesian Water Company is stocking its water bottles at a local convenience store and at a few area offices and events under a private label.

A controversial water bottling plant proposed for outside Kalispell has preliminary approval from the state and county to fill and sell millions of water bottles a year. But opponents are still looking for ways to shut it down.

Flathead County Commissioners spent two hours on Thursday morning re-listening to public hearings recorded two years ago.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story misstated the total number of RV spaces West Glacier RV and Cabin Village plans to develop. The error has been corrected in this copy.

The public has been given longer to comment on part of a big, new RV park outside Glacier National Park that was approved by Flathead County last year.

The state department of Environmental Quality is now considering permits for water, wastewater, storm runoff, and solid waste management from Glacier Park, Inc. The company plans to develop a 102-space RV park with 25 rental cabins.