[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6304956,"mediaKeyId","2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec","parentId",2452779,"title","Committee approves executive actions on four bills, adopts amendment to ban expanded polystyrene","audioSeconds",146,"startMs",8893000,"endMs",9039000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec&start=8893&end=9039","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec/thumbnail_8893000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6304956/Montana/Committee-approves-executive-actions-on-four-bills-adopts-amendment-to-ban-expanded-polystyrene","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304956-283812d6efbebeeba100bdd09f31efe4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604035&Signature=hcTQTgTtXdmAjuz2Cxf7-xg-rTgFcXjHOKEiATBuwfXSzJsy-Og-uecUsdvldL-85LwiBDUupMbA4WVTBNY-8SGzklfqzFG1S8w75Hyrl0tLxxzDL-Z~aMantLhT-q2zJDKmNfaHRlGGieIinndH2L4i1bjvkd0WNx6fjZQR5m24-oq4gL4e5MN85zqBR-D4tiHq-hd-h2VqTjF3h-lFY1air4Vkn~OdWya0dxjzLnEKFV1rVAN3yQt1~a~y6jfxME6qxv1fNSlYzINqyMfMjJ5yTXEpUIiSfjeeBNP4r5QPYAuHCrxy9p5-RyUb5FQE9LxC4oSqHXC53J96vHAJEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-02-28T00:00:00Z","article","The House Natural Resources Committee moved four bills in executive action and adopted one amendment during its floor-session executive action.

- House Bill 477 (expanded polystyrene): Committee adopted Amendment 1.1, which allows any fees collected under the bill to be used to support departmental FTEs. The amendment passed on a roll-call vote (11 ayes, 3 nays). The bill, as amended, was reported out of committee on a roll-call tally of 12 ayes and 2 nays.

- House Bill 616 (data modeling for mine reclamation/release): The committee passed HB 616 by voice vote. The clerk reported 12 ayes and 2 nays after proxies were recorded.

- House Bill 633 (cumulative hydrologic impact assessment/permit comment timing): The committee passed HB 633 on a roll-call vote. The recorded tally reported 8 ayes and 6 nays.

- House Bill 664 (nutrient standards/numeric rules repeal clarification): The committee passed HB 664 on a roll-call vote with 13 ayes and 1 nay.

Committee members who announced proxy votes included Representative Fitzpatrick (aye by proxy) and others noted during roll calls. The committee chair indicated these bills would move to the floor for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Natural Resources Feb 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During executive action the committee advanced four bills (HB 477, HB 616, HB 633, HB 664); members adopted an amendment to HB 477 concerning a fee use provision and all bills were reported out of committee with recorded tallies.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304961,"Sponsor urges DEQ rulemaking to limit greenhouse gas emissions after Held opinion; advocates press for rules, industry backs alternative package",420,4155000,4575000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec&start=4155&end=4575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec/thumbnail_4155000.jpg","/articles/6304961/Montana/Sponsor-urges-DEQ-rulemaking-to-limit-greenhouse-gas-emissions-after-Held-opinion-advocates-press-for-rules-industry-backs-alternative-package","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304961-7a030f15e3a0a4009f2bc47915ef06dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604035&Signature=S-ar0MiNt1sbJEQTFkSlahiwaYY2s~EYkVjB9GqshJlVgMlgQRlDZlrp8~YqFlu~wXUfHvyv989DU3gBlTgg0ibPeQxA7z0SRl1qGzWWyczcCwAM7QJdruDxcoujGV4yH-iszIr-hfrs6Uzy3OE1Tx091ar4HGwiQIP6MnuQslF9efbHY~rxNukTIe5o8hi~l7cyplyAaAMzilmD7iT6s7mLqjJkgwBFRuigcW0JwlsWTMXxp7E2oaolwJXi91sUMm1j5w~~vW2CAtHWEFELx2o1kpyuO5Ieh6dyZ6Yf3D8GskrOFOjyBT6tzbnw2wCFelm~4KYs477M3UEij2Fqtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Ryan Powers (sponsor) opened a hearing on House Bill 660 by framing the bill as a response to the Montana Supreme Court's Held decision and a step to implement the state's constitutional environmental protections. \"I respectfully request your support for House Bill 660 that requires that the department shall develop rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions to protect public health safety and the welfare of the environment,\" Powers said, citing the court record that the state did not dispute key climate-science findings.

More than a dozen proponents — including conservation groups, economists, physicians, local climate organizations and parents — urged the committee to direct DEQ to begin rulemaking. Testimony cited climate impacts across Montana, including heat, drought, wildfire and economic losses to agriculture and outdoor recreation. Shannon James (Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund) and Anne Hedges (Montana Environmental Information Center) submitted state-specific reports and expert testimony from the Held trial and asked the committee to act. Michael Hudson of Families for Livable Climate said Montana's per-capita greenhouse gas emissions are well above national and global averages and urged action to protect children from wildfire smoke and health harms.

Opponents, including John Iverson for Treasure State Resources Association and Sonny Capice for the Montana Petroleum Association, said other legislative vehicles better address the Held decision and opposed HB 660 as duplicative or poor policy. Iverson said a package of other bills (referenced in committee discussion) was the appropriate path and therefore his coalition opposed this specific bill.

DEQ Director Sonia Nowakowski and Air Quality Bureau Chief Bo Wilkins appeared as informational witnesses. Nowakowski said DEQ had been consulted during drafting and that the bill would direct rulemaking but that an earlier DEQ greenhouse-gas rulemaking effort (circa 2010) was reviewed by the Environmental Quality Council and did not proceed after objection. \"That rule making package was brought forward and reviewed by the Environmental Quality Council which objected to that rule making and that rule making did not proceed,\" Nowakowski told the committee. Wilkins noted the department's monitoring and indicated that wildfire smoke is captured in monitoring data but is treated differently for regulatory designations under federal rules.

Committee members asked about fiscal implications and program staffing; DEQ said initial costs would be covered from air-fee special revenue in its fiscal note and that EPA reporting systems would be used for inventory purposes. Lawmakers also debated how wildfire smoke is treated in air-quality programs and whether the rulemaking should target particular greenhouse gases or sectors; sponsors said the bill intentionally left scope to DEQ rulemaking. The committee closed the hearing without immediate action.","Representative Powers sought rules requiring DEQ to limit greenhouse gases, citing the Montana Supreme Court's Held decision; supporters urged the committee to direct rulemaking to protect public health and the environment, while industry witnesses opposed this bill in favor of a different legislative package.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304966,"Committee hears unanimous-leaning support to tighten Montana tailings oversight and IRP rules",1383,2690000,4073000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec&start=2690&end=4073","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec/thumbnail_2690000.jpg","/articles/6304966/Montana/Committee-hears-unanimous-leaning-support-to-tighten-Montana-tailings-oversight-and-IRP-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304966-6600ba61f6c423b83bf8e6fad2532886/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604035&Signature=c5tmTzHLO7bTgwYCsj6t2oyGNQWaWfO7EUDY4NIK3XvKujeUsHaBeFndqCvoY4CZ8tX9KMpF6SIthNrO90pfoZCDWDjoJaaCmWDbPEct~QO2RlDgCLzA5T2itW9iU2PphVkrw~xgqdFl7Jh9~0tlv6qwR4~4mTGjV1POyiHuENqEda5eG-Edpfy47pY0H2yDPEBAHXk56neeCcZ-Nw0CxoYQIugOTt3ySGe4bpZg-uDI4~aoHArDsaZVbd28Myw-SWozhgBMgMZQ8Ik6UDwZRM-5DApSlCLqDD4J8mhFizPHyz7MYTQdeZc7WHFOvbaCml8W8aOF7KFy-~hPXwkmYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Natural Resources heard House Bill 699, a broad cleanup and update to Montana’s tailings storage and independent review panel (IRP) statute originally passed in 2015. Sponsor Rep. Bill Mercer told the committee the bill updates language based on 10 years of implementation and aims to strengthen oversight to reduce risk from tailings storage facilities.

Industry, permittees and community groups emphasized the IRP's role and urged passage. \"One of the things that is very unique in this structure is the independent review panel and the need to be able to attract some of the really most sophisticated minds in this area,\" sponsor Mercer said. Mark Thompson of Montana Resources gave a practical overview of tailings operations and why engineering and regulatory oversight matters, describing how slurry from milling is conveyed to a tailings impoundment and why embankment containment and seismic resilience are essential.

Several organizations testified in support, including the Montana Mining Association; Northern Plains Resource Council; Montana Environmental Information Center; Treasure State Resources Association; Montana Trout Unlimited; and Sabina Stillwater (operator of Norilsk/Stillwater mines). Heather McDowell of Stillwater emphasized the IRP's constructive role: \"Our operations and stakeholders have benefited greatly from the engagement with the IRP ... the IRP oversight made this design the tailings design better and safer.\" Betsy Baxter of Northern Plains described participation in an IRP failure-modes analysis and said the panel's on-site inspections led to additional testing and recommended design improvements.

DEQ and industry witnesses said the bill refines definitions, expands eligible IRP expertise while preserving independence and technical standards, and clarifies which facilities are covered (with a 50-acre-foot exclusion for very small impoundments). Dan Walsh, DEQ’s air, energy and mining division administrator, told the committee DEQ \"supports House Bill 699\" and said the bill improves clarity and protectiveness under the Metal Mine Reclamation Act.

Opponents were limited in number and formal opposition did not drive debate; several groups that often contest mining policy offered conditional support, noting the bill had been vetted with stakeholders. The committee closed the hearing with broad bipartisan engagement and no immediate amendments proposed.","Witnesses across industry, community groups and DEQ supported House Bill 699 to refine Montana's tailings-storage law, expand and professionalize the independent review panel (IRP), and clarify design and oversight for tailings facilities.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304969,"Lawmakers debate renaming ‘authorization to degrade’ and new ‘feasibility allowances’ for water quality",1461,1111000,2572000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec&start=1111&end=2572","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec/thumbnail_1111000.jpg","/articles/6304969/Montana/Lawmakers-debate-renaming-authorization-to-degrade-and-new-feasibility-allowances-for-water-quality","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304969-470236b8b883307971cb20c8eb19ff7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604035&Signature=kmhOMbzTxrQ8OVTUPM2Y6njfEYKLjQW-CBV6hUzl2EkWPJAIhJNQIt6nTO7Nl3VlOxzE2W4-9p4euPf8tE8xF7eLdv8HBhaNGsY3w4xOOS4uygRd0cPSbaacvZFj6MBSvowaklht5vu-s1xYK2vpXMmN4OTTqm~x7xLRbY5sA3vvTKMlc3SQVTMvFKFnHGvFc~9FVx4pFSc0sRuZIaIUaEAfCmLa08-Cx-JdTxWIWnfZb72xZOsHPgFzYbgsta2v678gnbbjCEv7pYCZoWwimqp4eiA9UjRUVh~bokj4xoY8T~II9XGClAi8-hZyl4k1FFdBnHO5i2CcRjIK2XzELw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Natural Resources Committee heard extensive testimony on House Bill 685, which would revise Montana's nondegradation policy by replacing the statutory phrase \"authorization to degrade\" with a new term, \"feasibility allowance,\" and by changing related statutory language.

Sponsor Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick said the change was requested by DEQ and intended to reflect existing federal terminology and a process that includes public participation, monitoring and conditions. \"This allowance is already used in both federal and state law,\" Fitzpatrick told the committee, saying the measure aims to make the statute's terminology more accurate and predictable for projects that seek an allowance.

Industry witnesses described the proposal as a modest, clarifying update. Matt Vincent of the Montana Mining Association called it a name alignment that preserves existing protections for Montana's highest-quality waters: \"All this bill does is propose to change the name to align with the fact that this is a process, a robust process that may or may not lead to flexibility in a discharger's permit and it'll be based on sound analysis and public participation.\" John Iverson of Treasure State Resources Association and representatives of petroleum interests and other trade groups voiced similar support.

Opponents warned the bill goes beyond a name change and could alter statutory balancing tests. Derf Johnson of the Montana Environmental Information Center said the bill could shift the burden toward allowing degradation and highlighted a specific change on page 15 that, in his view, would remove language weighing environmental and social costs: \"What we're doing here is we're eliminating that careful balance. We're putting the thumb entirely on the scale, taking out environmental impacts, social considerations of pollution, and simply considering the net benefit associated with degrading Montana's waters.\" Caroline Canarios of Northern Plains echoed concerns that the term \"feasibility allowance\" is not defined and that the bill removes required consideration of social and environmental costs.

Sam Carlson of the Clark Fork Coalition urged the committee to preserve an explicit requirement to weigh both social and environmental costs against benefits: \"By removing consideration of the social and environmental costs, this bill creates an unbalanced and unreasonable framework for regulating water quality.\"

Department of Environmental Quality witnesses said the department's process would not change and that the proposed wording mirrors language in 40 C.F.R. 131.12(a)(2)(ii). Director Sonia Nowakowski said DEQ had been consulted and characterized the change as terminology alignment rather than a substantive rollback: \"Our process will not change in how we move forward and assess our request for authorization to degrade or a feasibility allowance.\"

Committee members asked about definitions, the statutory text on page 15, and whether the change would allow more degraded water quality in practice. Several legislators said the issue raises difficult tradeoffs; sponsors and proponents emphasized procedural safeguards such as monitoring, conditions, and prohibitions for outstanding waters.","Bill would replace the statutory term 'authorization to degrade' with 'feasibility allowance' and revise nondegradation policy; proponents call it a terminology and alignment change while opponents say it shifts burden toward allowing pollution and removes cost-of-degradation safeguards.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304974,"Committee hears testimony on bill to remove DEQ petition deadline for impaired waters",756,352000,1108000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec&start=352&end=1108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452779-02725bdad9e0744e2079dda75dd550ec/thumbnail_352000.jpg","/articles/6304974/Montana/Committee-hears-testimony-on-bill-to-remove-DEQ-petition-deadline-for-impaired-waters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304974-7a634761c8fcfde275bcbdb089fb0db7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604035&Signature=BMHH93OooIlX0UXrv8KTE1584uEmZNI4VVAZOaCY9mI169nshNYs60h~JCTXSa8unEqh-uC09oWY6UtuVeyWCOwEpuglyCC5djZaipq8t2q0RVfj-uA1PELqYJwQe2qTtsZumbKt-GW6zNrxibnKqcIhbfVZeIF5MVr9VqXcPrwdJ2ORyQZLPR1BYhT9gmeWUZTG2HIazKgf~Sj7UloJIVocJTKFAeMUy42xxEm~px2pKhteNcaEO879r-i5wmMJhgoLadYu3kX6oR5NZTruMjz-OzPRrI6o1Fd6zWZDuR1qIODo86r49PgQa~460dSMx1AVWPFChT-VQPwWXxkMzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Natural Resources held a hearing on House Bill 684 on petitions for listing impaired waters, with sponsor Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick saying the Department of Environmental Quality asked that the statutory deadline be removed to give staff more flexibility. \"This is a bill I'm bringing at the request of the Department of Environmental Quality,\" Fitzpatrick said at the hearing.

The bill would strike a statutory deadline tied to DEQ's review of citizen-submitted information that can trigger consideration of whether a water body should be listed as impaired. Proponents from DEQ framed the change as an operational fix: Sonia Nowakowski, director of DEQ, said the agency did not present a specific replacement date because staffers need time to work out how the review fits with its biennial integrated report cycle. \"60 days simply isn't long enough, Mister Chair, Representative Marler,\" Nowakowski said, adding that DEQ would like to negotiate a suitable timeline later in the process.

Opponents said removing the deadline would allow an indefinite delay of public petitions and create unequal treatment compared with regulated dischargers. Derf Johnson of the Montana Environmental Information Center told the committee the petition process is an important tool that allows communities to ask DEQ to consider listing a water body as impaired and that the bill \"basically allows for an indefinite period of time in which DEQ could sit on the information that you submit.\" Sam Carlson of the Clark Fork Coalition argued Montanans deserve a timely response comparable to the timelines DEQ follows when industry seeks a permit: \"When industry requests a permit to discharge into state waters, DEQ has a clear timeline to respond, and we believe that all Montanans deserve the same courtesy. Yet, this bill would allow DEQ to indefinitely delay any response.\"

Committee members pressed DEQ staff for details. Andy Ulvin, Water Quality Planning Bureau Chief, explained DEQ's integrated report is produced every two years and that petition timing can conflict with that schedule. Ulvin said some compromise between the current 60-day requirement and the full two-year cycle might be workable: \"I think some number of days in between 60 and 2 years would give us a flexibility ... and also keeps us from that becoming stagnant and going 18 months or so between assessment periods.\" Several legislators suggested a temporary numeric extension (for example, 180 or 270 days) could be addressed in the Senate if necessary; Fitzpatrick said amendments may be difficult before transmittal and likely would need to be handled on the Senate side.

The hearing record contains both the request for administrative flexibility and vocal calls for preserving a clear response timeline to protect public access to the petition process. The committee closed the hearing on HB 684 without a vote.","Supporters say more time is needed for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to review citizen petitions about impaired waters; opponents warned the change could allow indefinite agency delay and asked for a fixed alternative timeline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves executive actions on four bills, adopts amendment to ban expanded polystyrene

Sponsor urges DEQ rulemaking to limit greenhouse gas emissions after Held opinion; advocates press for rules, industry backs alternative package

Committee hears unanimous-leaning support to tighten Montana tailings oversight and IRP rules

Lawmakers debate renaming ‘authorization to degrade’ and new ‘feasibility allowances’ for water quality

Committee hears testimony on bill to remove DEQ petition deadline for impaired waters