EQC to Discuss Climate Change, Conservation Easements

Climate change and conservation easements will top the agenda when the Environmental Quality Council meets May 12-13 in Helena.

The EQC Agency Oversight Subcommittee will meet at 9 a.m. Monday in Room 102 of the State Capitol. The full council will convene in the same location at 2 p.m. Agendas for both meetings are available on the legislative website at www.leg.mt.gov/eqc.

The council has decided to look more closely at 15 of the 54 recommendations in the ""Montana Climate Change Action Plan: Final Report of the Governor's Climate Change Advisory Committee." The report, released last November, was the subject of an EQC survey in February. The council selected the 15 recommendations based on the survey results.

An analysis of the 15 recommendations, as well as the survey, is available online at the address above under "Meeting Schedule and Materials." The council will discuss the analysis and decide if it wishes to pursue draft legislation or take any other actions related to climate change.

On May 13, legislative staff will present the council with a preliminary report on conservation easements on school trust lands.

The state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will also provide an update on the state water plan, which was adopted more than a decade ago.

For more information, contact Todd Everts at teverts@mt.gov or 406-444-3747.

Legislators who serve on the EQC are Sens. Bob Hawks, D-Bozeman; Christine Kaufmann, D-Helena; Dan McGee, R-Laurel; Jim Shockley, R-Victor; Robert Story Jr., R-Park City; and David Wanzenried, D-Missoula; and Reps. Norma Bixby, D-Lame Deer; Sue Dickenson, D-Great Falls; Julie French, D-Scobey; Carol Lambert, R-Broadus; Chas Vincent, R-Libby; and Craig Witte, R-Kalispell.

Other members are Jeff Pattison, Glasgow; Brian Cebull, Billings; Diane Conradi, Whitefish; Douglas McRae, Forsyth; and Mike Volesky, representing the Governor's Office.