Today Upper Missouri Waterkeeper filed a lawsuit challenging the EPA’s February 2020 approval of a series of “Poison Pill” variance rules that undermine critical nutrient pollution controls for Montana waterways. This lawsuit is the latest action we’ve taken to protect…
We’re tracking bad legislation each Montana session that could undermine environmental protections for waterways and communities. Below are summaries of two nasty bills that would weaken key protections for fishable, swimmable, drinkable water in Montana. HB 625: Scrapping Science-Based Water…
On May 22, 2018 the public learned what’s causing nearly annual algal blooms and cloudy waters in the Beaverhead River. Expert scientists from the Bureau of Reclamation, Montana DEQ, and Montana FWP discussed recent late summer algal blooms & water…
The reality of living in Bozeman today is that the landscape is constantly changing with growth, sprawl, and expansion. There are several environmental non-profits that are actively working to protect our natural resources from irresponsible development. Upper Missouri Waterkeeper is…
DEQ has begun the process of drafting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Black Butte Copper Project. We recently submitted comments regarding scoping (the initial process of determining what issues should be studied in the EIS). The scoping process gives the…
This summer 2017, the Montana DEQ determined that the proposed Black Butte Copper Project, AKA the proposed Smith Mine outside White Sulphur Springs, has submitted a “technically complete” application and therefore it was starting the environmental review process. Determining that…
New EPA and Army Corps’ attempts to revoke Clean Water Act protections from waters is an illegal effort that unnecessarily risks drinking water, public health, and river health. Yesterday, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper joined more than one-hundred clean water organizations in submitting two…
Join us next Monday Sept. 18th 2017 at 6pm in the Bozeman Public Library to learn more about the challenges and opportunities confronting clean water in Big Sky, MT. For the past 9 months Upper Missouri Waterkeeper has been an…
We’ve submitted comments to DEQ on its draft implementing rules for Senate Bill 325 including, notably, another “variance” rule that would exempt certain polluters from doing their part to reduce pollution to Montana waterways. The effect of SB 325’s variance rule…
Bad Bill Tracking A little over a week past, President Trump signed an executive order setting up “regulatory reform officers” and “task forces” within the agencies to help carry out the destruction of regulations. Stopping regulatory “overreach” is one thing, but destroying agencies…
