Montana State Legislature

The Environmental Quality Council (EQC) is an interbranch body with oversight duties for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP), and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
EQC has a total of 12 appointed legislative members and 4 public members. 
The council's statutory duties are in 75-1-324, MCA.

Committee Members

REPRESENTATIVE
STEVE GUNDERSON (R) --Chair

SENATOR
DAN BARTEL (R) --Member

SENATOR
MIKE LANG (R) --Member

SENATOR
PAT FLOWERS (D) --Member

SENATOR
STEVE HINEBAUCH (R) --Member

SENATOR
THERESA MANZELLA (R) --Member

REPRESENTATIVE
PAUL FIELDER (R) --Member

REPRESENTATIVE
JEDEDIAH HINKLE (R) --Member

REPRESENTATIVE
JONATHAN KARLEN (D) --Member

REPRESENTATIVE
RHONDA KNUDSEN (R) --Member

REPRESENTATIVE
MARILYN MARLER (D) --Member

SENATOR
WILLIS CURDY (D) --Vice Chair

Public Members

The audio minutes are the official minutes of the committee. Both the video and audio recordings of each meeting are available shortly after the meeting ends. A minutes log will be published later, noting the time at which various items were discussed.

April 10, 2024
Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio / Video

March 14, 2024
Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio / Video

March 13, 2024
Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio / Video

January 19, 2024
Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio / Video

January 18, 2024
Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio / Video

December 6, 2023
Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio / Video

November 13, 2023
Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio / Video

September 28, 2023
Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio /  Video

September 27, 2023
Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio /  Video

July 26, 2023
Agenda - Minutes Log - Audio / Video

Assigned Studies

HJ 18: Study Remediation of Smurfit-Stone Mill Site

Committee Topics

• BLM Coal Screen Amendment
  • Supplemental EIS/RMP Amendment Info Sheet
  • EQC Letter to BLM
• Elk Draft Plan
• Grizzly Bear Report
• FWP's AIS Report

Agency Oversight

• Department of Environmental Quality
• Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
• Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

Required Reports

Advisory Council Review

Resources and Publications

• MEPA
• Permitting Index
• Environmental Indicators
• Other publications

Rule Review

• Overview July 2023
• September 2023

The EQC will determine over the course of the 2023-24 interim whether to pursue any legislative proposals arising out of its work.

• 2023 Natural Resource Legislation Summary

Rules, Guidelines, and Procedures for Interim Committees

Montana Environmental Quality Council: Work Plan (2023-24) (updated March 2024)

• Detailed timeline of EQC interim work (updated March 2024)
• Work Plan Matrix
• Chair Gunderson's Work List

Public comment guidelines

Legislator reimbursement form