"Natural" Gas
...and why it's not the "bridge fuel" they want you to believe.
Protecting Air & Water
Protecting and advancing air and water quality standards to ensure a clean and healthy climate for future generations
Climate & Energy
Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels through an equitable transition to renewable and clean energy sources
Down to Earth
Stay up-to-date on the latest environment news in Montana with Down to Earth, our quarterly membership publication.
THE INVISIBLE AIR POLLUTION NEXT DOOR
VICTORY AT ROSEBUD COAL MINE
PETITIONING THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
MEPA GROUP MOVES AHEAD
THE INVISIBLE AIR POLLUTION NEXT DOOR
New Imaging Reveals Invisible Pollution at Refineries and in the Home
What would you do if you discovered invisible pollution pouring out of the refinery next door, or right out of the gas stove in your home? Unfortunately, that’s exactly what is happening, and MEIC staff has seen it with our own eyes.
VICTORY AT ROSEBUD COAL MINE
A Hard-Fought Victory for Clean Water at the Rosebud Mine
More than a decade of dogged advocacy and laser-focused persistence has paid off: The Montana Supreme Court found in favor of MEIC and our partners on a number of important, precedent-setting claims in regard to the permitting of a coal mine expansion in southeastern Montana – the Rosebud Coal Mine.
PETITIONING THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
Businesses, Health, and Conservation Groups Say PSC Must Consider Climate
On Feb. 28, MEIC filed a formal petition with the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC), in partnership with businesses, organizations, and energy leaders from across Montana, requesting the PSC adopt a rule requiring consideration of climate change in its regulation of Montana utilities.
MEPA GROUP MOVES AHEAD
MEPA Work Group Evaluating Bedrock Environmental Law
Now that the listening sessions have wrapped up, the DEQ has created a “MEPA Work Group” that is tasked with further discussing and evaluating MEPA and potentially offering recommendations on improving the process.
The Latest Stories and Actions from MEIC
Press Release: EPA updates air quality standards, lowers allowable amount of emitted mercury and air toxics
April 25, 2024 – The updated rule will have significant impacts on emissions of lung-damaging air pollutants in Montana.
Webinar Recording — Montana Climate Action Updates
May 15, 2024
Let's rise up.
Help protect Montana’s clean air and water.
For 50 years, MEIC has worked to keep Montana’s air and water clean. We have stopped dirty acid mines and helped pass and defend strong pollution control laws. And it’s all made possible by our members.
MEIC is made up of thousands of Montanans who care deeply about this state – our home. This strong membership has allowed MEIC to remain independent and to always fight for what is right. We would love to have you as a member too.
MEIC in the News
Groups ask court to force PSC decision on climate change petition
June 12, 2024 – A group of Montana businesses and environmental organizations filed a court petition Wednesday seeking to force the Public Service Commission to either formally consider their request to include climate change in their decisions or deny it, accusing the commission of stalling in violation of the law.
Guest column: Let’s band together to protect our Smith River!
May 30, 2024 – Summers on Montanas’s Smith River. Does it get any better than that? Our beloved Smith River is a place where we gather with family and friends to soak in some of Montana’s most pristine wilderness. But this cherished land continues to be under threat by outside industrial mining interests.
More News:
Save Our Smith—more than just a river.
THE SMITH RIVER
A COMMON CAUSE
PROTECTING CLEAN WATER
THE SMITH RIVER
The Smith River is not a location for another failed mining experiment.
Montana’s Smith River is renowned worldwide for its clean water, rugged canyon scenery, and blue ribbon trout fishery. The Smith is Montana’s only permitted recreational river. The permitted section of the Smith River winds 59 miles through a remote canyon in the Big Belt Mountains. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks classifies the Smith River’s fishery as high-value, owing to its bountiful population of rainbow, brown, westslope cutthroat, and brook trout. The canyon walls of the Smith also boast some of the best examples of Native American pictographs in Montana.
A COMMON CAUSE
Urge Montana to protect the Smith.
Montana’s Smith River is an extraordinary resource, and deserves our most rigorous effort to protect it from mine pollution and dewatering. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and the Department of Environmental Quality Director Chris Dorrington will make critical decisions that will determine the future of the Smith River and the Sheep Creek Mine.
Please contact Governor Gianforte and Director Dorrington. Let them know that the Smith River is an incredibly important place for the people of Montana and across the country and world, and should not be sacrificed for temporary and risky mining activities.
PROTECTING CLEAN WATER
It’s time to make a stand.
The Smith River and its tributaries provide crucial habitat and spawning grounds for regional trout fisheries. The Sheep Creek drainage accounts for over half of tributary spawning of rainbow trout in the Smith River drainage, and rainbow trout have been known to travel nearly 200 miles round-trip from the Missouri River to spawn!
The Smith River depends on clean cold water from its tributaries to sustain the aquatic life within its banks and the agricultural operations along it. Demands on the river’s waters already often exceed available flows in many years, creating challenges for downstream water users.
“For a practice that has a known effect on soils and strata and water, the onus should be on the applicant [to pay for mine clean-up]. I appreciate mining practices, but what is anything worth if you don’t have clean water?”
J.P. Pomnichowski
Former Senator, SD 33
Montana Environmental
Information Center
Clean and healthful.
It's your right, our mission.
Stay Connected
Phone: (406) 443-2520
Email: meic@meic.org
Mail to: P.O. Box 1184, Helena, MT, 59624
Office locations:
107 W. Lawrence St., #N-6, Helena
225 W. Front, Missoula