Looking Ahead: River Protection in Montana 2021 & Beyond

The Upcoming Biden Presidency Offers An Opportunity to Increase Protections for Montana’s Rivers and the Businesses & Communities They Support, But, There Is No Guarantee At the same time, Montana just elected an unprecedented number of state public officials –…

EPA Disapproves Revised Montana Nutrient Variance Rule

On February 24, 2020 EPA acted on Montana DEQ’s November 2019 submission of revised nutrient variance rules and ‘disapproved’ the revised rule package. EPA’s February 24, 2020 Letter to MDEQ disapproves the recently submitted and revised variance rule, but also…

EPA Backpedals, Reinterprets Clean Water Act to Add Loophole

A year ago, we warned that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was considering creating a massive loophole in the Clean Water Act. EPA is now moving forward with this and has released an interpretation of the Act that would…

Talking Points: Public Comment on the Draft CAFO General Permit

Montana DEQ is revising its permit that addresses the water pollution and health impacts of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).  You can comment in-person at a hearing Monday August 19th or through written comments due Friday August 24th. Livestock farming…

Waterkeeper Litigation Update 2018

Citizens are one of a nation’s greatest resources for enforcing environmental laws and regulations. We know the country’s land, natural attributes, and values more intimately than government ever will.   A bird-watcher walking in the woods sees chemical waste flowing through a…

Information Act Request Concerning Montana’s New Nutrient Variance Rule

The Freedom of Information Act (5 USC § 552) (FOIA) is one of the most important legal tools citizens and reporters have for furthering government transparency and accountability in the United States. FOIA is an acronym for the Freedom of…

Comments on Montana’s Pesticide Permit

For decades our nation’s waterways have been polluted with hazardous pesticides and their degradates which impact aquatic populations of animals and plants, and decrease surface and drinking water quality. Results from the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water‐Quality Assessment Program studies…

Collaborating to Build Stronger Stormwater Pollution Permits

Did you know Upper Missouri Waterkeeper works with state officials and local, municipal leaders to prevent water pollution? It’s true!  One unique role Upper Missouri Waterkeeper plays is that of a public advocate for clean water in stakeholder groups at…

Comments on Montana’s General Permit for Suction Dredging

On March 30th, 2015 we submitted these technical comments to the Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality concerning its proposed renewal of a General Permit for Suction Dredge operations.   Montana administers a federally-delegated permit program that regulates how, where, and when…

2015 and Our Community Promise

Water is clear. And so should be our intentions. Upper Missouri Waterkeeper is excited to enter 2015 with a number of important clean water campaigns essential to ensuring that, on one hand,  Montana possesses strong clean water protections, and on…