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Committee reviews HB 681 implementation and exempt-well concerns from local industry and conservation groups
Summary
DNRC staff briefed the committee on HB 681 implementation and regulatory considerations; industry, local governments, and conservation groups debated exempt-well impacts and permitting uncertainty. No policy vote was held.
Anna Pakenham Stevenson, administrator of the Water Resources Division at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, presented the department’s implementation status and technical steps related to HB 681.
Committee members questioned rulemaking, enforcement authority, and how HB 681’s provisions would affect local permitting. Public commenters and panelists included Clayton Elliott (Montana Trout Unlimited), Lindsey Krywaruchka (DEQ water-quality administrator), Ronda Wiggers (Montana Water Well Drillers Association), Adrianne Cotton (Montana Building Industry Association), Brian Heaston (city engineer, Bozeman), and Ryan Leland (public works director, Helena). They discussed exempt-well use, potential impacts on water availability and development, and the need for clearer guidance on local implementation.
Speakers representing conservation interests emphasized watershed and fisheries concerns, while industry and municipal speakers raised questions about permitting certainty and development impacts. The committee did not adopt policy during the meeting; staff and stakeholders identified follow-up information needs and indicated the topic would remain under study.
