The great groundwater debate reemerges at Montana Legislature
A stakeholder group has been working on a bill that would allow developers to supply up to 24 homes with groundwater exempted from the usual water permitting process. Like other exempt well bills the Montana Legislature has heard over the past two decades, the proposal is expected to spark vigorous debate at the Capitol.
Latest Environmental Reporting
Trump energy policy aims to unplug Endangered Species Act
Forest Service authorizes controversial land swap along the eastern portion of the Crazy Mountains
Forest Service seeking public input on long-awaited Flathead River planÂ
No shouting. No name calling. Just award-winning local journalism for Montanans by Montanans.
Sign up for our free weekday newsletter.
MORE ENVIRONMENTAL COVERAGE
Feds look to expand Montana’s largest coal mine
Montana’s largest coal mine is set for an expansion that could increase its coal production by 19 million tons.
EPA releases plan for cleanup of Columbia Falls Superfund site
The EPA’s plan for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company site along the Flathead River comes 15 years after the plant closed and eight years after it was added to the national Superfund list. The plan largely reflects a draft version that was criticized by a local group that wanted the EPA to force the site’s…
Montana Supreme Court directs DEQ to study gas plant’s greenhouse gas emissions
The Montana Supreme Court’s ruling on Jan. 3 provides a window into how state agencies might study climate impacts associated with large projects in response to the Held v. Montana youth climate ruling.
Montana Supreme Court upholds Tintina’s copper mine permit
In a 5-2 decision, the Montana Supreme Court found that the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation properly considered Tintina’s groundwater management plan.
Montana sues Yellowstone National Park over bison management plan
The Montana Department of Livestock and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks joined Gov. Greg Gianforte in suing Yellowstone National Park for a bison management plan that aims to increase the animals’ population and tolerance for their presence outside of park boundaries.
Montana Supreme Court sides with youth plaintiffs in landmark climate lawsuit
The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a lower court’s ruling in a precedent-setting constitutional climate lawsuit brought by 16 young Montanans.
Empower your community.
Power the press!
Fuel the future of independent, public-powered news in Montana. Become a member of ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and help bring high-quality, independent journalism to more communities in our state.
MORE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING
Land Board approves 33,000-acre conservation easement in northwest Montana
In a 3-1 vote, the Montana Land Board has closed the book on a conservation project that took four years and nearly $40 million to finalize.
NorthWestern Energy partners on high-voltage transmission line
Montana’s largest utility has entered into an agreement with transmission developer Grid United and Minnesota energy company ALLETE for 10% of the capacity on the North Plains Connector, 3,000-megawatt, 420-mile line that will connect Colstrip with Bismark, North Dakota.
New approach to Rocky Mountain grizzlies sought ahead of the second Trump presidency
Environmental groups are asking the U.S. government to do more to protect Rocky Mountain grizzly bears before the next Trump administration decides the big bruins’ future.
Unpacking a ‘uniquely mysterious’ development proposal in Paradise ValleyÂ
A proposal to put 100 cabins, a restaurant and a spa on a 90-acre parcel in a rural drainage near the boundary of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness has reignited planning conversations in Park County.
Gianforte taps Department of Agriculture director to lead FWP
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Friday that he has tapped the director of the Montana Department of Agriculture, Christy Clark, to lead Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Federal wildlife officials adopt lynx recovery plan, propose changes to critical habitat designations
The plan’s adoption comes a quarter-century after the snow-dependent wildcat first garnered federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.