Government Accountability

MEIC is Montana’s environmental “watchdog.” It has successfully influenced state and federal agencies for since 1973, monitoring issues from old growth forest protection, to standards for coal bed methane development, to air and water pollution permits. When all else fails, MEIC utilizes litigation to ensure that environmental laws are complied with.

Montana Legislature

A major part of MEIC’s work in protecting Montana’s environment is advocating at the Montana Legislature on environmental issues. It is the reason MEIC was founded, and since the 1974 legislative session MEIC has been the leading voice for the environment. Because of MEIC’s presence, the environment is guaranteed to receive attention at the Capitol. MEIC is present during every Montana Legislative Session, advocating on behalf of clean water, clean air, and healthy landscapes for all Montanans. 

Montana Constitution

Often referred to as Montana’s “environmental watchdog,” MEIC successfully changes public policy and defends Montana’s Constitution. We increase the public’s understanding of and involvement in environmental problems and issues. Montana’s Constitution and the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) are very significant for protecting Montana’s environment. MEIC works to defend both as well as other important environmental laws.

Montana’s landmark Constitution, ratified in 1972, provides MEIC with our overall mission – maintaining a clean and healthful environment for all Montanans. The right to a clean and healthful environment has been recognized as a fundamental right – in a case that MEIC successfully brought to the Montana Supreme Court, MEIC v. DEQ, to prevent a large open-pit cyanide gold mine on the banks of the iconic Blackfoot River. We work to assure that the Montana Constitution is adequately and properly enforced to protect that right.

Clean and healthful. It's your right, our mission.

Held v. State
of Montana

On March 13, 2020, 16 young people from across Montana filed their constitutional climate lawsuit, Held v. State of Montana, against their state government. The trial began on June 12, 2023. These young Montanans asserted that, by supporting a fossil fuel-driven energy system that causes and contributes to the climate crisis, Montana is violating their constitutional rights to a clean and healthful environment; to seek safety, health, and happiness; and to individual dignity and equal protection of the law. This youth-led climate lawsuit also argued that the state’s fossil fuel energy system degrades and depletes Montana’s constitutionally protected public trust resources, including the atmosphere, rivers, lakes, fish, and wildlife. Much of the testimony and evidence drew upon MEIC’s decades of work pushing for more action from the State of Montana.

Judge Kathy Seeley delivered her decision on August 14, 2023.   In a 103-page ruling, the judge found that Montana contributed to the harm suffered by the youths and has the ability to alleviate those effects by changing its approach to permitting energy projects. The appeal was heard on July 10, 2024 and the decision is pending.

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