Document Actions
Air Quality bills
HB 483: Rep. Llew Jones (R-Conrad). This bill would essentially make it impossible for citizens to appeal DEQ approvals of all air, water and major facility siting act permits. MEIC Position: STRONGLY OPPOSE
- Signed into law by Governor 5/5/2009
IN THE NEWS: Amendments to permit-process bill welcomed by key supporters (by Matt Gouras, AP, 04/17/09)
U.S. EPA SUBMITS LETTER TO GOVERNOR QUESTIONING LEGALITY OF HB 483
BILLS THAT DIED:
SB 180: (Ron Erickson, D-Missoula). This bill would direct the State to adopt the California clean car standard. The California law requires new cars to emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Just this week President Obama directed the U.S. EPA to review the Bush Administration’s denial of California’s right to establish vehicle emission standards that are more stringent than federal ones. If EPA allows the California standard to be imposed, 13 other states will adopt the standard as well. This bill would add Montana to the growing list of states that want motor vehicles to pollute less. MEIC Position: SUPPORT
- Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources Committee 2/3/09
- Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal 02/26/2009
IN THE NEWS:
- Governor backs mileage rules (Associated Press, Published on Saturday, January 31, 2009)
- Area’s Big Three auto dealers keep pace (by Martin J. Kidston, Independent Record. 2/01/2000
SB 387: Sen. Keith Bales (R-Otter). This bill would require citizens to post a bond whenever they appeal an air permit to the Board of Environmental Review. It would also allow the Highwood Generating Station to continue construction, even though it failed to meet the deadlines in its permit. The bill also would shorten the already brief timeframe for citizens to appeal air permits, and it would require the Board to decide all permit appeals within 90 days, regardless of the complexity of the case (courts can take years for similar cases). [The bill is nearly the same as HB 483, but it does not apply to water quality permits.] MEIC Position: STRONGLY OPPOSE
- (S) Energy and Telecommunications Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed 2/18/2009 (vote: 6-5)
- (S) 2nd Reading Passed 2/20/2009 (vote: 27-22); (S) 3rd Reading Passed 2/21/2009 (vote: 27-23). Bill transmitted to House.
- BILL TABLED IN (H) Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications COMMITTEE 3/9/09
- Died in Standing Committee 04/28/2009
READ FACT SHEET ON SB 387
SB 440: (Sen. Kelly Gebhardt, R-Roundup) This bill would exempt all air permits from MEPA review. MEIC Position: STRONGLY OPPOSE
- (S) Natural Resources Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed 2/21/2009 (vote: 7-4)
- (S) 2nd Reading Passed 2/24/2009 (vote: 26-24); (S) 3rd Reading Passed 2/25/2009 (vote: 26-24). Bill transmitted to House.
- (H) Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications Committee Vote Failed (vote 7-7); Died in Standing Committee 04/28/2009