It is often said in Montana that the farmers and ranchers are the first environmentalists.  You take care of the land and resources that are your livelihood.  MEIC takes a similar stand:  caring for the environment is good business for Montana.  We work to protect the natural resources we all depend upon, including the precious water that irrigates our crops and pastures.

For the past several years, MEIC has joined with about 60 Great Falls farmers, ranchers, and landowners to oppose the proposed Highwood coal-fired power plant.  Together we filed a lawsuit challenging Cascade County's rezoning of area land from agricultural to heavy industrial.  Many of the landowners near the rezoned parcel are extremely concerned about the effect rezoning will have on their private property:

“Over 80% of the landowners for many miles around the proposed site have joined this suit. We don’t want a coal plant for a neighbor. Zoning is supposed to protect our agricultural operations and the rural character of our community. Unfortunately, the Commissioners ignored the law and illegally spot-zoned the property. Our only recourse is to go back to court,” said Tammie Lynne Smith, one of the plaintiffs.

MEIC has also worked closely with ranchers in Hilger, Montana, whose water quality and quantity has been negatively impacted by poor practices at the Kendall Mine.   MEIC is partnering with farmers and ranchers in Eastern Montana to ensure that any development of Montana's coal bed methane resources happens in an environmentally sound manner, not depleting and contaminating limited groundwater supplies.

MEIC also works to:  end perpetual water pollution by not granting permits to new mines that require perpetual water treatment; and to limit mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants that is contaminating our waterways and native fish.

Read a profile of Paul Smith, a long-time MEIC member, former president of the MEIC board of directors, rancher, and former lobbyist for the Montana Stockgrower's Association and Burlington Northern Railroad.