Committee: Environmental Quality Council
Author: Hope Stockwell
Posted on June 8, 2018
The Environmental Quality Council welcomes public comment on the following proposals through Monday, July 9. The EQC will review the comments at its July 25-26 meeting in Helena as it considers whether to move these concepts forward for consideration by the full legislature in 2019.
Please send comments on the following proposals to Hope Stockwell at hstockwell@mt.gov (with the name of the proposal in the subject line) or to Legislative Services Division, Attn. Hope Stockwell, PO Box 201704, Helena, MT 59620.
- OHV1 – increasing the gas tax revenue allocated to the off-highway vehicle program within the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks from 1/8 of 1% to 23/50 of 1%
- Snowmobile 1 - increasing the gas tax revenue allocated to the snowmobile program within the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks from 15/28 of 1% to 9/10 of 1%
- Aquatic invasive species (AIS) program funding: The EQC proposes a new funding structure for Montana’s AIS programs. Currently, hydroelectric fees provide $3.7 million in annual funding and the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass purchased by anglers generates about $3 million per year. The EQC instead proposes using a combination of general fund, gas taxes generated by motorboat use, and angler and watercraft fees to provide future funding. Hydroelectric fees would not be collected.
Please send comments on the following bird dog training proposal and SJ 9 report to Joe Kolman at jkolman@mt.gov (with the name of the proposal or report in the subject line) or to Legislative Services Division, Attn. Joe Kolman, PO Box 201704, Helena, MT 59620.
- LCdog3 - revising laws for bird dog field trials and training. Field trials on private land would no longer need a permit from the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Field trials on public land would require a permit and would be prohibited during the designated nesting season. Live birds used in field trials on public land or any bird dog training must be tagged or marked prior to release.
- Senate Joint Resolution No. 9 report - The EQC received updates about chronic wasting disease as part of a study required by SJ 9. Comment is sought on the report Tracking the Spread.
The EQC is also finalizing its Senate Joint Resolution No. 5 report on Coal in Montana, Changing Times, Challenging Times. Please send comments on the SJ 5 report to Sonja Nowakowski at snowakowski@mt.gov (with ‘SJ 5 report’ in the subject line) or to Legislative Services Division, Attn. Sonja Nowakowski, PO Box 201704, Helena, MT 59620.
