The City of Missoula is looking at a variety of options for using wood chips and other wood materials from the former sawmill site next to the Osprey baseball stadium.

In August 2009 Montana's Department of Natural Resources and Conservation awarded Missoula with a Development and Reclamation Planning Grant to evaluate if wood material from the site could be reclaimed.

As part of this investigation, consultants for the City will start a composting pilot test at the site on Monday and Tuesday of next week. The composting test will be used to demonstrate the quality of soil amendment materials that can be produced from the wood.

Compost testing will be conducted from November through April, and should the results prove favorable, the City plans to apply for a grant next spring to implement full-scale wood reclamation activities.