Support Stronger Pollution Control Exemptions

Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing a new suite of rules concerning how sectors that discharge wastewater (municipalities, industry, and construction/commercial) may seek a water quality standards variance. The public comment period is open until August 22, 2022…

FAQs: Eliminating Numeric Water Quality Standards Lets Big Polluters Off the Hook

What’s the big deal with Senate Bill 358 (2021) and Upper Missouri Waterkeeper’s Petition to the EPA?Senate Bill 358 represents the first time in our nation’s history that a state eliminated strong, science-based nutrient standards protecting rivers from harmful algae…

Trump Administration relaxes rules for oil and gas drilling in National Forests

The Trump administration has released its plan to make it easier for companies to drill for oil and gas on U.S. Forest Service lands. Public comments concerning the proposed rule are being accepted through November 2, 2020.   The proposed rule would cut the…

Lawsuit Filed Challenging Rollback of MT’s Science-Based Nutrient Criteria

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…

Lawsuit Filed Challenging Massive Rollback of Clean Water Protections in Montana

Today we filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Trump EPA for eliminating longstanding Clean Water Act protections for the nation’s waters, including approximately half of all wetlands and potentially millions of miles of streams. The Trump rule…

Our Waterways Aren’t Sewers – Let’s Stop Treating Them That Way

The Clean Water Act was passed in recognition of the fact that we should not be using our waterways as sewers, but incredibly, primarily due to outdated infrastructure, sewage spills still occur regularly around the country, leading to unsafe water…

Update: General Stormwater Permit for Montana’s Large Cities

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

Advocacy Update: Improved Suction Dredge Permit

Earlier this year Upper Missouri Waterkeeper submitted technical comments to the Montana DEQ concerning draft revisions to its Suction Dredging General Permit.  Click here to learn more about suction dredge mining. The good news is that DEQ’s final permit, issued…

Riparian Buffers PSA

Riparian buffers are important for good water quality in Montana! We worked with Sunrise Flyshop, a leading guide and outfitter shop located in Melrose, Montana, to put together this Riparian Buffers video showing incredible flyover footage of the Big Hole…

EPA Approves Montana’s Numeric Nutrient Rule Package

Last December 2014 we sent the EPA a Notice of Intent to Sue for their failure to take mandatory action on Montana’s recently submitted numeric nutrient water quality standards.  EPA acknowledged it was legally required to take action on Montana’s rule…