Montana committee hears resolution to plan study of pharmaceuticals and contaminants in state waters

The House Natural Resources Committee on Thursday heard from the bill sponsor and state water officials about a proposed resolution to develop a two-year plan for studying pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants in Montana’s waters.

The sponsor — who identified himself in the transcript as Zack Worth — described the measure as "a resolution to allow us to create a plan that then would allow us to do some studies," saying he wanted a broad, open-ended study to establish a baseline for future action. He cited anecdotal changes near his ranch and research from other states as reasons for pursuing a planning effort rather than immediate regulatory changes.

Lindsey Krivaruchka, Water Quality Division Administrator at the Department of Environmental Quality, told the committee that DEQ’s role is to set…