The Water Policy Interim Committee of the Montana Legislature is seeking public comment on a draft report that summarizes more than a year of study of a wide range of water issues.
The 2007 Legislature created the committee to help develop a state water policy that ensures fair and reasonable use of water resources as demand for them increases.
This is the first time since 1995 that the Legislature has had an interim committee devoted to water policy.
The committee is seeking comment on several draft recommendations. They include:
Funding a statewide hydrogeologic study that would establish baseline data to be used in making water-use decisions.
Changing the process for issuing new water permits to make it faster and easier to understand.
Establishing a faster permitting process for subdivisions that use public water systems instead of individual wells that are exempt from permitting requirements.
Creating a revolving loan program that would fund public water and sewer systems to reduce the number of individual wells and septic systems in subdivisions.
Protecting senior water-right holders with the timely enforcement of illegal water use and the resolution of water disputes.
Clarifying that local government may require public water and sewer systems in subdivisions.
The full report, "Water: Montana's Treasure," is available on the legislative website. The website includes all the information reviewed by the committee.
The draft report, including draft legislation, is available for comment throughout July. Comments will be compiled and presented to the committee at a meeting Aug. 12-13 in Helena. At that time, the committee will consider revisions to the report and any recommended legislation.
The committee will adopt a final version of the report and decide whether to pursue legislation at a meeting in September.
The public also may comment on a draft case study report conducted by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology. The 2007 Legislature directed the agency to study the extent to which groundwater withdrawals may result in net depletion of surface water in a closed basin or in specific areas of a closed basin. The report is available on the committee Web site.
Copies also may be obtained by calling (406) 444-3742.
Comments may be submitted by email to jkolman@mt.gov. Please put "water" in the subject line.
To submit comments by mail, send to Joe Kolman, Legislative Environmental Policy Office, P.O. Box 201704, Helena, MT 59620-1704.
Sen. Jim Elliott, D-Trout Creek, chairs the Water Policy Interim Committee. Other members are Sens. Larry Jent, D-Bozeman; Terry Murphy, R-Cardwell; and Gary Perry, R-Manhattan; and Reps. Scott Boggio, R-Red Lodge; Jill Cohenour, D-East Helena; Bill McChesney, D-Miles City; and Walter McNutt, R-Sidney.
