Montana State Legislature

2013-2014 Environmental Quality Council

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Reports for the EQC's HB 609, SJ 4, and SJ 15 studies are now available here.

  • Representative Jerry Bennet (R)
  • Representative Virginia Court(D)
  • Representative Ed Lieser(D)
  • Representative Bill McChesney(D) -- Vice Chair
  • Representative Jeffrey Welborn (R)
  • Representative Kerry White (R)
  • Senator Jennifer Fielder (R)
  • Senator Bradley Maxon Hamlett (D)
  • Senator Jim Keane (D)
  • Senator Rick Ripley (R)
  • Senator Gene Vuckovich (D)

Public Members

  • Mr. Scott Aspenlieder
  • Mr. Dexter Busby
  • Ms. Mary Fitzpatrick
  • Mr. Roy Morris


Governor's Representative

  • Mr. Tim Baker
Agency Oversight

FWP
State Parks and Recreation Board update, September 2013
Maintenance Accounts Report, September 2013
Sage Grouse Advisory Council Update, September 2013
Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station Map and Infested Boat Summary, September 2013
Instream flow leasing report, 2013
Block Management Program Performance Audit, October 2013
Operating Procedures for the Interagency Bison Management Plan, November 2013
Jurisdiction over wild bison from Yellowstone National Park
2013 Forest Inventory and Sustainable Yield Calculation
Greater Sage-Grouse Draft Habitat Conservation Strategy, January 2014
Pondera Colony Grizzly Bear Conflict Prevention and Management
Grizzly Bear Management Plan for Western Montana
Grizzly Bear Management Plan for SW Montana
Parks and Recreation Board retreat report
Statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan executive summary

Miscellaneous
State Water Plan, September 2014
-Clark Fork River Basin Task Force, June 2014
-Upper Missouri Basin Advisory Council, June 2014
-Lower Missouri River Basin Advisory Council, May 2014
-Yellowstone Basin Advisory Council, December 2013
Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program update, March 2014, DNRC
Integrated Waste Management Plan, 2013 Update, DEQ

Compliance and Enforcement reports, January 2014:
-Department of Agriculture
-Department of Environmental Quality
-Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

Litigation reports, March 2014:
-Department of Environmental Quality
-Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
-Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Land banking report, 2014, DNRC
SB 369 cabin and home site sale report, 2014, DNRC
TMDL progress report, 2014, DEQ
Numeric nutrient standards report, June 2014, DEQ
Numeric nutrient standards report, Aug. 2014, DEQ
Agency legislative proposals, September 2014
-Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
-Department of Environmental Quality
-Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

Petroleum Tank Release Sites

Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Fund Budget Status Report, September 2013
Petroleum Tank Release Site Closure Update, DEQ, September 2013
Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Fund Budget Status Report, December 2013
Petroleum Tank Release Site Closure Update, DEQ, July 2014
Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Fund Budget Status Report, July 2014
EPA Tier II Report
DEQ Response to EPA Tier II Report

Water Adjudication

Basin location and adjudication progress, June 2013
Basin location and adjudication progress, September 2013
Basin location and adjudication progress, January 2014
Basin location and adjudication progress, March 2014
Basin location and adjudication progress, May 2014
Basin location and adjudication progress, July 2014
Basin location and adjudication progress, Sept 2014

Wildland Fire
Fire Supression Account Update, LFD, June 2013
Fire Supression Account Update, LFD, September 2013
Fire Expenditure Summary - FY 2013, DNRC
Forest Health Trends in Montana, DNRC
National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook
Surface Water Supply Index Values, DNRC
Drought Water Supply Update, DNRC

Wolf Management

2013 wolf hunt proposal

2012 wolf hunt summary
Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management 2013 Annual Report

Study Resolutions

House Bill No. 609
HB 609 - Interim study of hunting and fishing licensing
Montana License Fee Comparison – Resident vs. Nonresident
Resident License Fee Comparison by State, August 2013
Nonresident License Fee Comparison by State, August 2013
Lost revenue to FWP by discounted or free licenses, 2012
Youth License Discount Comparison by State, August 2013
Youth License Package Comparison by State, August 2013
Senior Discount License Comparison by State, August 2013
Military License Discount Comparison by State, August 2013
Disabled Discount License Comparison by State, August 2013
FWP Funding FY 2014 and Budget Forecast, FWP, September 2013
Lost revenue to FWP by discounted or free licenses, FWP, 2012
FWP response to questions raised at June EQC meeting
FWP Projected Expenditures, General License Account
Pros and Cons of DFWP Funding Cycle Options
Montana Sportsmen Alliance License Survey Results
Fish and Wildlife Licensing and Funding Advisory Council Preliminary Recommendations to the EQC, April 2014
LFAC preliminary recommendations revenue estimate, FWP
LFAC projected revenue impacts to general license account, FWP
License year 2014 earmark license allocation, FWP
Earmarked license accounts 4-year comparison, FWP
LFAC recommendations summary of public comments
FWP response to EQC questions in May 2014 re: past/projected expenditures
Bill draft (LC4444)
Draft study report

Senate Joint Resolution No. 4
SJ 4 - Interim study on Virginia City, Nevada City, and Reeder's Alley
Background Brief and Study Plan
News article on Reeder's Alley history
Statutes that govern the Montana Heritage Commission
Warranty Deed
Related administrative rules
Montana Heritage Commission minutes
Structural problems at Reeder's Alley
Reeder's Alley Aquisition Proposal
Montana Heritage Commission financial data
About the Montana Heritage Commission
Virginia City and Nevada City 2013 Visitation Report
MHC Revenues and Expenditures
Business and Marketing Performance Plan for the MHC
Virginia City and Nevada City Repairs, Maintenance and Preservation Needs
SJ 4 Work Group Report, December 2013
SJ 4 Work Group Report, May 2014
Bill draft (LCMHC1)
Draft study report

Senate Joint Resolution No. 15
SJ 15 - Interim study on public land management
Survey of County Commissions
List of counties receiving survey
Land management by county
PILT payments by county
County Survey Results
County reponse totals
SJ 15 Primer: History and Issues
SJ 15 study matrix
The Mitzpah-Pumpkin Creek Grazing District: It's History and Influence on the Enactment of a Public Lands Grazing Policy, 1926-1934
One Third of the Nation's Land
2012 Montana Mining Report, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Public Land Ownership in Montana, 2013, Montana State Library
Coordination between the Forest Service and County Governments, USFS
BLM Guide to Cooperating Agency Relationships

Legal Memos, Todd Everts, LSD

- County Growth Policies and Coordination and Cooperation with Federal Land Management Agency Environmental Review and Planning Processes

- Coordination Status of Montana State and Local Governments Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Multiple-Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960

- Cooperating Agency Status Under the National Environmental Policy Act and Coordinating Agency Status Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Multiple-Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960
Letter to counties on identification of forest restoration projects
County forest restoration project responses received to date
Selected state entities addressing federal land management
Continuing study of federal land management issues in Montana
Bill draft (LCFED1)
Bill draft (LCFED2)
Draft study report

Other Topics
2013 natural resource legislation summary
Septic Inspection at Time of Transfer
Memo on proposed EPA air quality rules
ETIC request for joint subcommittee on EPA carbon rule
Brine contamination in and near the East Poplar Oil Field, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, USGS

 

 

Links to State Agency EAs and EISs

Department Of Environmental Quality

Department Of Fish, Wildlife And Parks

Department Of Natural Resources And Conservation

Department Of Transportation

The EQC will begin to develop draft legislation based on its findings in the fall before the 2015 Legislative Session. The committee's legislative proposals will be listed here at that time.

HB 140 grew out of the EQC's study of the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks' (FWP) hunting and fishing licenses. HB 140 decreased FWP's revenue-decision cycle from 10-years to 4-years, created a base hunting license, standardized discounts available to youth, senior, and disabled hunters, and allocated additional funding to the hunting access enhancement programs. The Legislature amended HB 140 to include creation of an apprentice hunting certificate. The governor signed HB 140 on May 11, 2015.

SB 64 was the result of the EQC's study of the Montana Heritage Preservation and Development Commission's (MHC) management of state-owned properties at Virginia City, Nevada City, and Reeder's Alley. SB 64 refocused the MHC's activities on management of properties already acquired and removed some statutory restrictions on how the MHC is funded and how funding may be used. The governor signed SB 64 on February 27, 2015.

SJ 2 requested an interim study of the feasibility of Montana assuming authority to administer Federal Section 404 permits required by the Clean Water Act. SJ 2 was passed and approved by the legislature.

*The complete text for any of the proposed rules listed below, including any hearing information, may be accessed by visiting http://mtrules.org and entering the MAR Notice Number in the "Search by Notice No." field in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

Additional information regarding rulemaking and the Legislature's role in the administrative rulemaking process may be accessed here.
June 2013 Rules Summary Sept. 2013 Rules Summary Jan. 2014 Rules Summary
March 2014 Rules Summary May 2014 Rules Summary July 2014 Rules Summary
September 2014 Rules Summary    


Department of Environmental Quality and administratively attached entities

MAR Notice Date MAR Notice Number* Agency, Board or Commission Subject Staff Memo/Other Documents

8/21/2014

17-366

 DEQ Methamphetamine cleanup (adopted) N/A

8/7/2014

17-365

 Board of Environmental Review Montana pollutant discharge elimination system (MPDES) N/A

8/7/2014

17-364

 DEQ Underground storage tanks - release categorization(adopted) N/A

6/26/2014

17-363

 DEQ Subdivisions - sewage systems (postponed) *cancelled* N/A

6/26/2014

17-362

 DEQ Hazardous waste - incorporation of federal rules by reference (adopted) N/A

6/26/2014

17-361

 Board of Environmental Review Air quality - major source permitting (adopted) N/A

6/26/2014

17-360

 Board of Environmental Review Air quality permit application fees (adopted) N/A

4/24/2014

17-359

 Board of Environmental Review Sewage systems, definitions, horizontal setbacks, floodplains, plans for public sewage systems, and fees (adopted) N/A

4/24/2014

17-358

 DEQ Subdivision applications and review, subdivision requirements, subdivision waivers and exclusions, review fees, and on-site subsurface wastewater treatment systems (adopted) N/A

3/13/2014

17-357

 DEQ CECRA remediation - incorporation by reference - regional screening levels (adopted) N/A

2/27/2014

17-353

 Board of Environmental Review

Air quality - incorporation by reference - publication dates (adopted)

 N/A

2/13/2014

17-356

 Board of Environmental Review Water quality - numeric nutrient standards - subsurface water quality classifications - nondegradation (adopted) N/A

2/13/2014

17-355

 DEQ Water quality - nutrient standards variances (adopted) N/A

2/13/2014

17-354

 DEQ Water quality - subdivisions - on-site wastewater treatment(adopted) N/A

1/30/2014

17-352

 Board of Environmental Review Temporary water quality standards (adopted) N/A
12/26/2013

17-351

 Board of Environmental Review Reclamation - requirements for limited opencut operations (adopted) N/A
12/26/2013

17-350

 Board of Environmental Review Reclamation - in situ coal operations (adopted) N/A

8/22/2013

17-349

 DEQ Subdivisions - fee schedules - changes in subdivision - notice of public hearing (adopted) N/A

8/8/2013

17-348

 DEQ Underground storage tanks – notice of public hearing (adopted) N/A

8/8/2013

17-347

 DEQ Infectious waste management – notice of public hearing (adopted) N/A

6/6/2013

17-346

 DEQ Hazardous waste – notice of public hearing (adopted) N/A

6/6/2013

17-343

 Board of Environmental Review DEQ circular 4 - amended notice of proposed amendment and extension of comment period (adopted) N/A

4/25/2013

17-344

 DEQ Alternative revolving loan program - no public hearing contemplated - notice of proposed amendment (adopted) N/A

4/11/2013

17-345

 DEQ State solid waste management – resource recovery plan - notice of public hearing (adopted) N/A


Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and administratively attached entities

MAR Notice Date MAR Notice Number* Agency, Board or Commission Subject Staff Memo/Other Documents

7/10/2014

12-415

 FWP Shooting range grants (adopted) N/A

6/26/2014

12-437

 FWP Wolf management stamps (withdrawn) Notice of decision

6/26/2014

12-416

 FWP Hunters against hunger program (adopted) N/A

6/12/2014

12-414

 FWP Fish importation (adopted) N/A

5/8/2014

12-404

 FWP Commercial use rules (adopted) N/A

4/24/2014

12-411

 Fish and Wildlife Commission Exotic species classification (adopted) N/A

3/13/2014

12-406

 Fish and Wildlife Commission Limiting a portion of Whitefish River to manually and electric powered watercraft (pending) N/A

1/30/2014

12-403

 Fish and Wildlife Commission Unauthorized placement of fish into public waters (adopted) N/A
11/27/2013

12-402

 Fish and Wildlife Commission State land access tax credit (adopted) N/A
10/31/2013

12-401

 Fish and Wildlife Commission Gray wolf management - notice of public hearing (adopted) N/A

9/5/2013

12-397

 FWP Primitive fishing access sites - notice of proposed amendment - no public hearing contemplated (adopted) N/A

7/25/2013

12-392

 Fish and Wildlife Commission Salvage permits - notice of proposed adoption - no public hearing contemplated (adopted) N/A

7/15/2013

12-394

 Fish and Wildlife Commission

Closing the Clark Fork River from Big Eddy Fishing Access Site to Dry Creek Fishing Access Site in Mineral County - notice of adoption of a temporary emergency rule (adopted)

 N/A

7/9/2013

12-393

 Fish and Wildlife Commission Closing the Smith River from Camp Baker to Eden Bridge - notice of adoption of a temporary emergency rule (adopted) N/A

9/5/2013

12-385

 Fish and Wildlife Commission Recreational use on Lake Alva, Harpers Lake, and Lake Marshall - notice of extension of comment period (adopted) N/A

1/17/2013

12-386

 FWP Recreational use on Echo Lake, Abbott Lake, and Peterson Lake - notice of public hearing (not adopted within 6-month deadline) N/A


Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and administratively attached entities

MAR Notice MAR Notice Number* Agency, Board or Commission Subject Staff Memo/Other Documents

10/23/2014

36-22-170

 DNRC Water rights - hearings (pending) N/A

1/30/2014

36-22-177

 DNRC Hearing examiner appointment and temporary leases (adopted) N/A

12/16/2013

36-22-176

 DNRC Definition of combined appropriation - notice of public hearing (withdrawn on 1/30/2014)

Objection Letter

DNRC Response
10/17/2013

36-22-173

 DNRC Cabinsite lease site sales - notice of public hearing (adopted) N/A

8/22/2013

36-22-175

 DNRC Definition of combined appropriation - notice of public hearing (withdrawn on 11/14/13) Objection letter

6/6/2013

36-22-174

 DNRC Water right permitting - notice of public hearing (adopted) N/A

5/9/2013

36-22-172

 DNRC Board of water well contractors’ fees - notice of public hearing (adopted) N/A
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