EQC to Wrap up Studies on Climate Change, Land Use
The Montana Environmental Quality Council (EQC) will meet next week to put the finishing touches on three studies it has been conducting since the end of the 2007 legislative session. The studies address climate change, conservation easements on state trust lands, and the solvency of the state Petroleum Tank Release Fund.
Council members will rely on the study results to decide whether to propose draft legislation on these topics to the 2009 Legislature.
The EQC will meet Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. and Sept. 9 at 8 a.m. in Room 102 of the State Capitol. An agenda is available online at www.leg.mt.gov/eqc.
The council will review comment from the public on a draft climate change report, as well as a dozen pieces of related draft legislation. Based on the feedback, the council will decide whether to revise the report and refer any draft bills to the 2009 Legislature.
The agenda also includes:
Conservation easement study. The council determined that the State Land Board already has several legal options regarding conservation of trust lands. A draft report does not suggest any legislation but proposes a brochure that explains the basic elements of conservation easements.
Water policy. A joint subcommittee of the EQC and the Water Policy Interim Committee will report on what changes, if any, should be made to water-related responsibilities delegated to the EQC.
Petroleum Tank Release Fund. A joint subcommittee of the EQC and the Legislative Finance Committee will report on its study of the insolvency of the fund.
State agency legislation. The Departments of Environmental Quality and Fish, Wildlife and Parks will present draft legislation they want to introduce during the 2009 session.
For more information, contact the Legislative Environmental Policy Office at 444-3742.
