Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Sonya Nowakowski briefed the committee on the agency’s role and recent internal work, including a Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review.

Nowakowski said DEQ employs roughly 400 staff and administers air quality, water quality, waste management and remediation, and energy and mining programs. She described the agency’s role in permitting, compliance, and reclamation, and noted DEQ’s work with federal partners under delegated programs where the state has primacy.

She told the committee DEQ formed a work group late last year to review MEPA procedures in response to recent court decisions and stakeholder feedback; Nowakowski said committee members will likely see related bills this session. The director emphasized transparency and customer service in permitting and said the agency is focused on staffing, IT and fiscal improvements to meet permitting timelines.

Nowakowski introduced division administrators who will appear on bills the committee will hear and offered the department’s assistance to legislators during the session.

Why it matters: DEQ’s implementation of state and delegated federal programs affects permit timelines, environmental safeguards, and local projects across Montana.