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Meeting highlights: fire‑cost tool demo, utility mitigation, weeds and DEQ report
Summary
Short, shareable highlights from the Environmental Quality Council meeting: LFD showed an interactive fire‑cost map; NorthWestern Energy outlined PSPS and camera plans; weed stakeholders asked for stronger enforcement and permit‑level plans; DEQ reported online‑system rollout by July 2026.
Quick highlights from the Environmental Quality Council meeting:
- "So far this year we've had almost 15,000 acres burned in the state, 471 fires," Alice Hecht, LFD, on the fire tool that links incidents, costs and parcel risk.
- NorthWestern Energy: "We actually have, 10 more camera locations coming in '26," Nate Linder said, describing smoke cameras, weather stations, enhanced settings and PSPS readiness.
- "Noncompliance has been identified ... as the number 1 concern," said Becky Kington of the Montana Weed Control Association, which urged requiring revegetation and weed plans in permitting and stronger embargo authority.
- DEQ reported it cleared a backlog and is implementing online filing: "3,240 new parcels ... and 5,933 new living units" were reflected in recent bureau activity, Lindsay Kravaruchka said.
Links and follow‑ups: staff will post the LFD tool to committee SharePoint, draft statutory language with weed stakeholders, and DEQ will provide extension/request metrics and finish online filings by July 2026.
