MEIC's 50th Anniversary
Join us in celebrating 50 years of protecting Montana’s clean and healthful environment.
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.
LEGISLATURE: TALLYING VICTORIES & LOSSES
NWE’S IRP FOIL
HOUSING IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE
LEGISLATURE: TALLYING VICTORIES & LOSSES
The 2023 Session: Foul Air, Dirtier Water, an Unstable Climate, and More Sprawl
A question: What do you get when you combine a disdain for science, a bully mentality, and a hostility toward anyone outside of your inner circle?
Answer: The 2023 Legislature.
NWE’S IRP FOIL
NorthWestern’s IRP is as Bad as We Expected (But Who’s Surprised?)
If the draft plan wasn’t bad enough, the final plan is a difficult-to-decipher but thinly veiled attempt to gouge Montana electricity customers, ignore the climate crisis while pretending to have a meaningful greenhouse gas reduction goal, and make the company’s shareholders rich.
HOUSING IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE
Housing is an Environmental Issue
As Montana grapples with how to address its ongoing housing crisis, it is important to connect the dots between how responsible planning can protect our climate and how quality and affordable housing can impact our environment.
The Latest Stories and Actions from MEIC
Read the Ruling: Held v State of Montana
Aug. 14, 2023 – The Court finds in favor of 16 youth plaintiffs who sued the State of Montana. Read the ruling here.
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
Donations & Grassroots Support Help MEIC Preserve Montana’s Natural Beauty for Future Generations
Aug 24, 2023 – In a Nutshell: Montana’s constitution guarantees Montanans the right to a clean and healthful environment. The Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) fights to ensure that constitutional right is upheld.
PSC hosts public hearing regarding NorthWestern Energy plan
Aug 15, 2023 – “There is a chokehold on the energy in our state because of Northwestern Energy,” shared one frustrated Great Falls resident.
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
Bozeman Senator, SD 33
Montana Environmental
Information Center
Clean and healthful.
It's your right, our mission.
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P: (406) 443-2520
E: meic@meic.org
107 W. Lawrence St., #N-6
Helena, MT 59601
Mailing addresses:
P.O. Box 1184, Helena, MT, 59624
225 W. Front, Missoula, MT, 59802
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