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