MEPA Court Cases

(Added as available)

MEPA Litigation Summary, 1971 to June 2021

2023

Held, et al., v. State of Montana, et al.

2020
Montana Rivers, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v. DEQ

Montana Trout Unlimited, MEIC, Trout Unlimited, Earthworks, and American Rivers v. DEQ and Tintina Montana, Inc.
--MEPA review: Tintina Montana, Black Butte Copper Mine, Final EIS and Record of Decision
--MEPA review: Tintina Montana, Black Butte Copper Mine, Draft EIS

United Property Owners of Montana v. FWP
-- MEPA review: Bison Conservation and Management in Montana, Final Programmatic EIS and Record of Decision

Yellowstone Disposal, LLC v. DEQ
--MEPA review: Proposed Yellowstone Disposal, LLC Class II Landfill Project, Draft EA

2019
Belk with Engel, Vail, v. DEQ, Glacier Stone, State of Montana

Hillcrest Natural Area Foundation, Inc., et al. v. DEQ

2018
WLG Association Inc., v. DEQ

Water for Flathead's Future Inc., et al. v. DEQ, DNRC

Park County Environmental Council and Greater Yellowstone Coalition v. DEQ and Lucky Minerals, Inc.

2017
Bitterrooters for Planning, Inc. and Bitterroot River Protective Assn. v. DEQ
-- MEPA review: Ground Water Pollution Control System Permit, EA


2015
Diamond v Corporation, et al. v. DEQ
-- MEPA review: Solid Waste Management System License, Draft EA
-- MEPA review: Solid Waste Management System License Final


2014
Skyline Sportsmen's Assn. and Anaconda Sportsmen's Club v. FWP and FWC

MEIC and Earthworks v. DEQ and Tintina Alaska Exploration, Inc
-- MEPA review: Exploration License, Draft EA
-- MEPA review: Air Quality Permit, Draft EA
-- MEPA review: Air Quality Permit, ROD, Final EA


2013
Gallatin Village, LLC v. DEQ and Gallatin Gateway County Water and Sewer District
— MEPA review: Public Notice
— MEPA review: EA

Protecting Paradise, Inc. v. DEQ
— MEPA review
— Response to Public Comments

Carver and Lower Valley Properties v. FWP and Flathead County
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final

Citizens for Balanced Use, et al. v. FWP, et al.
(Bison translocation)
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Supplement
— MEPA review: Decision

Eckert, et al. v. DEQ, DNRC and Bridger Pines County Water and Sewer District
— MEPA review: Final FONSI
— MEPA review: Final EA

Combined Park County and Park County Stockgrowers Assn. case re Interagency Bison Management Plan
— MEPA review: ROD
— Memo on Amended Plan


2012
Missoula County, et al. v. MDT
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: FONSI

Montana Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation v. MBOG, et al.
(Cedar Creek gas development)

Combined NPRC and MEIC cases re Otter Creek coal leasing
— No MEPA review

Northern Plains Resource Council, et al. v. Board of Land Commissioners and Arch Coal
(Otter Creek coal)
— No MEPA review

MEIC and the Sierra Club v. Board of Land Commissioners and Arch Coal
(Otter Creek coal)
— No MEPA review


2011
Wild Eagle Mountain Ranch, LLC, et al. v. DNRC
(Coyote Wind)
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final

Park County Stockgrowers Assn. v. DOL, FWP, et al.
(Interagency Bison Managment Plan)
— MEPA review: ROD
— Memo on Amended Plan

Jefferson County v. DEQ
(MSTI Project)
MEPA review not concluded


2010
Northern Cheyenne, et al. v. DEQ, et al.
— MEPA review


2009
Alaska Basin Grazing Assn., et al. v. DNRC
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Decision

Rattlesnake Coalition, et al. v. the City of Missoula and DEQ


2008
Montana River Action Network, et al. v. DNRC, et al.
(Utility Solutions water use permit)
— MEPA review
— MEPA review

Eastgate Water and Sewer District v. DEQ, et al.
(East Helena gravel pit)

Brekke and Gryder v. Spanish Peaks Sand and Gravel, LLC, Cameron Springs, LLC, DEQ, and Opper
— No MEPA review

Pennaco Energy, Inc., et al. v. BER
— No MEPA review


2007
MEIC v. MBOG and Fidelity Exploration and Production Co.
(Fidelity CBM wells)

MEIC and Environmental Defense Fund v. DEQ and Bull Mountain Development
(Bull Mountain generating plant)
— Mepa review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final


2006
Tongue River Water Users' Assn., et al. v. DEQ, Fidelity Exploration and Production Co., and Redstone Gas Partners
— MEPA review: Public Notice


2004
Friends of the Wild Swan v. DNRC and Board of Land Commissioners
(Goat Squeezer timber sale)
— MEPA review: Executive Summary
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Appendices
— MEPA review: Executive Summary
— MEPA review: Final
— MEPA review: Appendices
— MEPA Review: Decision


2003
MEIC and Dan Edens v. DNRC and Udell Sharp
(North Helena Valley water use permit)

MEIC, et al. v. DEQ
(Cattle Development Center CAFO)
— Mepa review: Public Notice for general CAFO permit
— Mepa review: Final


2002
Friends of the Marias and Missouri River Citizens, Inc. v. DNRC
(Marias River water use permit)
— Mepa review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final

Pompey's Pillar Historical Assn., et al. v. BER, et al.
(United Harvest grain loading terminal)
— Mepa review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final


National Wildlife Federation, et al., v. DEQ (DSL) and Golden Sunlight Mines
(Golden Sunlight Mine reclamation)
— Mepa review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final


2001
Friends of the Wild Swan, et al. v. Bud Clinch, et al.
(Old growth forests)
— MEPA review

MEIC and Citizens for a Better Flathead v. DNRC and Board of Land Commissioners
(Development of state section 36. MEPA review ordered by Court)
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Supplement
— MEPA review: Final
— MEPA review: Decision


2000
MEIC and Plan Helena, Inc. v. MDT and Board of Transportation Commissioners
(Helena North Valley interchange)
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final
— MEPA review: Decision
— MEPA review: Revised Final

Friends of the Wild Swan v. DNRC and Plum Creek
(Middle Soup Creek timber sale)
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final
— MEPA review: Decision


1999
Skyline Sportsmen's Assn. v. Board of Land Commissioners, et al.
(West-Middle Fork Blacktail Creek timber sale)
— MEPA review: Final

NPRC and Stillwater Protective Assn. v. DEQ and Mark Simonich
(Stillwater Mine tailings impoundment)
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final
— MEPA review: Decision

Little Snowies Coalition v. DNRC and WTL Logging, Inc.
(Middle Bench timber sale)
— MEPA review

Greater Yellowstone Coalition, et al. v. DEQ, et al.
(Big Sky discharge permit)
— MEPA review: Public Notice
— MEPA review: EA

Assiniboine and Gros Ventre Tribes, et al. v. DEQ
(Zortman Landusky Mine)
— MEPA review: Scoping
— MEPA review: Draft Volume I
— MEPA review: Draft Volume II
— MEPA review: Draft Volume III
— MEPA review: Final

Friends of the Wild Swan, et al. v. DEQ and Yellowstone Pipeline, Inc.


1997
Skyline Sportsmen's Assn., et al. v. Board of Land Commissioners, et al.
(Turner land exchange)

MEIC, Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Coalition and Women's Voices for the Earth v. DEQ and Seven-Up Pete Joint Venture


1995
Ravalli County Fish and Game Assn., et al. v. DSL, et al.
(Sula State Forest grazing lease)

Friends of the Wild Swan and Alliance for the Wild Rockies. v. DNRC and Board of Land Commissioners
(Enjoin timber sales until PEIS completed.)


1994
Mott v. DSL, et al.
(Tom Miner timber sale)

Wallace, Big Velvet Elk Ranch v. FWP

Friends of the Wild Swan v. DSL and Champion International Corp.
(Middle Soup timber sale)
— MEPA review: 1978 FEIS
— MEPA review: EA


1993
Kilpatrick, Great Bear Adventure, Inc. v. Vincent and FWP
(Great Bear Adventure menagerie permit)
— MEPA review


1992
Gold Creek Resource Protection Assn., Inc., v. DSL, et al.
(Burnt Bridge timber sale)
— MEPA review: EA

Murphy, et al. v. DHES
(Butte-Silver Bow County landfill)

The Fund for Animals, Inc. v. Lujan and FWP, et al.
(Bison Management Plan)


1991
Friends of the Wild Swan v. DSL and Montana Wood Products Assn.
(Swan River timber sale)

Friends of the Wild Swan v. DSL
(Swan River timber sale)


1990
Concerned Citizens of Pony, Inc., v. DHES
(Chicago Mining Co. discharge permit)

Westview People's Action v. DSL
(Phillips gravel pit)


1989
Upper Yellowstone Defense Fund, et al. v. DHES
(Church Universal and Triumphant development)
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final

North Fork Preservation Assn. v. DSL, et al.
(Cenex oil and gas drilling, Coal Creek)
— MEPA review: 1983 PER
— MEPA review: 1984 PER


1984
MEIC and Local 254, Laborers' International Union of North America v. Montana Power Co., et al.
(Haines pipeline)
— MEPA review


1982
Montana Wilderness Assn. v. BNRC
(Montana Power Co. transmission line)
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final

Cabinet Resource Group, et al. v. DSL, et al.
(ASARCO, Troy Mine)
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final


1981
Titeca v. FWP
(Boulder Forks fishing access)
— MEPA review


1980
Friends of the Earth, et al. v. DSL, et al.
(Proposed uranium exploration)

Coalition for Canyon Preservation v. Karl Bowers and the Federal Highway Administration, et al.
(U.S. Hwy 2 construction)
— MEPA review: Final


1979
Guthrie, et al. v. DHES, et al.
(Arrowleaf West subdivision)
— MEPA review

Kadillak, et al. v. the Anaconda Copper Co., et al.
(Anaconda Copper Co. mine waste dump)
— MEPA review


1976
Montana Wilderness Assn. and Gallatin Sportsman Assn. v. Board of Health and Environmental Sciences and DHES
(Beaver Creek South subdivision)
— MEPA review: Final

Funke, et al. v. DHES , et al.
(Lake County landfill)


1975
Montana Wilderness Assn. v. the Board of Land Commissioners and DSL
(Big Horn Canyon Recreation Area road reconstruction)
— MEPA review

 

MEPA-Related Cases

Taleff and Walsh, et al. v. FWP (2010)
(Lake Five)
— MEPA review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final

In Re: Permit Applicant Continental Energy Services, Inc. (2002)
— Mepa review: Draft
— MEPA review: Final
— MEPA review: Decision

In Re: Permit Applicant NorthWestern Montana First Megawatts, LLC (2001)