SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3
INTRODUCED BY V. COCCHIARELLA, L. GROSFIELD, K. OHS
BY REQUEST OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COUNCIL
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA RECOMMENDING THAT STATE AGENCIES SERVE AS ROLE MODELS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND REFINEMENT OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO REDUCE NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION OF MONTANA'S WATERS; AND RECOMMENDING THAT RELEVANT AGENCIES REPORT RELATED PROGRESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WHEREAS, all Montanans share a responsibility for the protection and enhancement of the capability of Montana's waters to support their designated uses; and
WHEREAS, some land user groups are demonstrating their commitment to that responsibility by collectively developing and implementing voluntary strategies to address water quality protection on lands associated with their industry; and
WHEREAS, Montana's forestry industry is an example of a land user group that has a track record of developing and implementing voluntary best management practices to protect water quality; and
WHEREAS, 10 years of implementation of the voluntary forestry best management practices program, including its strong training and audit components, has resulted in: (1) increased understanding of members of the forest products industry of the impact that their activities might have on water quality; (2) development, implementation, evaluation, and continued refinement of forestry-related practices that can provide cost-effective protection of water quality; (3) a high level of compliance, industrywide, with these voluntary practices; and (4) effective protection of water quality associated with forestry activities on both private and public land; and
WHEREAS, Montana's state agencies should serve as role models for the protection of Montana's water resources and could learn from the efforts of the forestry industry in developing and implementing protective practices.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
That Montana state agencies with land management or development responsibilities, including responsibilities for road construction and maintenance, be strongly urged to serve as role models for the broad and effective implementation and refinement of best management practices to reduce nonpoint source water pollution in Montana. Activities in this regard may include but are not limited to:
(1) evaluating their current land management and development practices, including those related to roads, parking areas, and trails, to determine what practices are currently used to reduce the potential for nonpoint source water pollution as a direct or indirect result of their management or development activities;
(2) determining what additional practices could be applied that would further reduce the likelihood of nonpoint source pollution of Montana's waters; and
(3) coordinating internally and with other agencies to share current and potential new techniques, training staff on the implementation of these techniques, and otherwise enhancing the statewide application and efficiency of best management practices for purposes of reducing nonpoint source water pollution in Montana, thereby further enhancing Montana's ability to support the designated uses of its waters.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Environmental Quality Council make a priority of requesting Montana state agencies with land management or land development responsibilities to report to the Council prior to the next legislative session on the respective agencies' progress and accomplishments related to implementing and refining best management practices to control nonpoint source pollution of Montana's waters.
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