Mining bills

The following is a list of bills pertaining to mining that MEIC followed at the 2007 Legislature, and their final status:

HARDROCK MINING

HB 7 (Rep. Dave Kasten, R-Brockway). A bill such as this is introduced every session to award funds through the Department of Natural Resource and Conservation’s Reclamation and Development Grants program. Included in the grant recommendations are two projects intended to clean up water flowing onto the Fort Belknap reservation that has been contaminated with heavy metals from the Zortman and Landusky mines. The money would build a settling pond to remove iron from the water and a wetland treatment system to remove other contaminants. MEIC Position: Support funding these two projects but no position on the other provisions of the bill.

Passed by Legislature — Signed into Law by Governor.

HB 116 (Rep. Rick Ripley, R-Wolf Creek). This bill makes major revisions to the State’s Resource Indemnity Trust (RIT) and the programs it funds. The RIT, which is funded by a tax on extractive industries, was created to fund cleanup at locations contaminated by the extraction of natural resources and for which there is no responsible party. For the most part this bill simply renames and tweaks existing programs. It does, however, contain a provision that allowa the Department of Environmental Quality to use RIT funds for its day-to-day operations. This is not what the RIT is supposed to do and MEIC tried to remove that provision from the bill.

Passed by Legislature — Signed into Law by Governor

HB 460 (Rep. Jim Keane, D-Butte). This bill was the mining industry’s answer to SB 180 (discussed above). It is nearly identical to SB 180, only more industry friendly. MEIC position: OPPOSE.

Passed by Legislature — signed by Governor 04/26/2007. Became law.

HB 557 (Rep. Ralph Heinert, R-Libby): This bill would have revised open-cut mining laws.

Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources and Energy committee 3/23/07.

SB 200 (Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena): This bill allows the State to file a Natural Resource Damage lawsuit, similar to the suit dealing with the Clark Fork River, to recover damages associated with the Mike Horse mine site. It’s hoped that this will ultimately allow for funding the restoration of the Mike Horse area. MEIC position: SUPPORT

Passed by Legislature — Signed into Law by Governor.

COAL BILLS

HB 196 (Rep. Michael Lange, R-Billings). This bill would have taken some of the interest earned on the Coal Trust Fund and use it to mitigate the impacts on government facilities, wildlife, or property owners from coal development. The Coal Board would have allocated the money. It is unclear how this proposal differed from the existing Coal Board programs. MEIC Position: Oppose.

Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources and Energy committee 4/13/07.

HB 533 (Rep. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip). This bill would increase the amount of money given to the Coal Board for distribution to areas impacted by coal development. Because some legislators foresee massive new coal development in Montana, they believe more money will be needed to deal with the impacts. MEIC Position: Neutral, but the increased funding should be tied directly to new development.

Passed by Legislature — Vetoed by Governor 5/3/07. Override attempt did not receive required 2/3 vote of the members of each house. House vote to override veto was 52 FOR and 36 AGAINST; Senate vote to override veto was 26 FOR and 20 AGAINST.

HB 688 (Rep. Alan Olson, R-Roundup). This is another bill that takes Coal Trust Fund interest, appropriating $250,000 annually to DEQ. DEQ is required to use the money to administer the coal and uranium regulatory programs. MEIC Position: SUPPORT.

Passed by the Legislature — signed by Governor 04/26/2007. Became law.

SB 268 (Sen. Keith Bales, R-Otter). SB 268 would have cut the coal severance tax in half. MEIC Position: Oppose.

The bill was tabled in the Senate Taxation Committee on 3/26/07.

COALBED METHANE BILLS

HB 383 (Rep. Krayton Kerns, R-Laurel). This bill was one of the worst of the session. It would have allowed unlimited discharges of coalbed methane-produced water into impoundments in ephemeral drainages. It would have exempted the discharges from water quality standards and Montana’s non-degradation policy. MEIC Position: Oppose.

Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources and Energy committee 3/31/07.

SB 407 (Sen. Keith Bales, R-Otter). This bill would allow unlimited discharges of unknown quantities of water to existing CBM water impoundments. Under the guise of helping agriculture in drought conditions, it would allow CBM developers to circumvent discharge limitations. MEIC Position: Oppose.

Passed by Legislature —Vetoed by Governor 5/8/07.

OTHER BILLS

HB 763 (Rep. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip) This bill would have reversed Montana’s existing ban on the disposal of radioactive waste, if the material comes from the mining or processing of uranium or thorium. The language that would have been changed by this bill was enacted as part of I-84, a citizens initiative that passed in 1980. MEIC Position: Oppose.

Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources and Energy Committee on 4/2/07.

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	You are here: Home → 2007 Legislature → Mining bills Document Actions Mining bills The following is a list of bills pertaining to mining that MEIC followed at the 2007 Legislature, and their final status: HARDROCK MINING HB 7 (Rep. Dave Kasten, R-Brockway). A bill such as this is introduced every session to award funds through the Department of Natural Resource and Conservation’s Reclamation and Development Grants program. Included in the grant recommendations are two projects intended to clean up water flowing onto the Fort Belknap reservation that has been contaminated with heavy metals from the Zortman and Landusky mines. The money would build a settling pond to remove iron from the water and a wetland treatment system to remove other contaminants. MEIC Position: Support funding these two projects but no position on the other provisions of the bill. Passed by Legislature — Signed into Law by Governor. HB 116 (Rep. Rick Ripley, R-Wolf Creek). This bill makes major revisions to the State’s Resource Indemnity Trust (RIT) and the programs it funds. The RIT, which is funded by a tax on extractive industries, was created to fund cleanup at locations contaminated by the extraction of natural resources and for which there is no responsible party. For the most part this bill simply renames and tweaks existing programs. It does, however, contain a provision that allowa the Department of Environmental Quality to use RIT funds for its day-to-day operations. This is not what the RIT is supposed to do and MEIC tried to remove that provision from the bill. Passed by Legislature — Signed into Law by Governor HB 460 (Rep. Jim Keane, D-Butte). This bill was the mining industry’s answer to SB 180 (discussed above). It is nearly identical to SB 180, only more industry friendly. MEIC position: OPPOSE. Passed by Legislature — signed by Governor 04/26/2007. Became law. HB 557 (Rep. Ralph Heinert, R-Libby): This bill would have revised open-cut mining laws. Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources and Energy committee 3/23/07. SB 200 (Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena): This bill allows the State to file a Natural Resource Damage lawsuit, similar to the suit dealing with the Clark Fork River, to recover damages associated with the Mike Horse mine site. It’s hoped that this will ultimately allow for funding the restoration of the Mike Horse area. MEIC position: SUPPORT Passed by Legislature — Signed into Law by Governor. COAL BILLS HB 196 (Rep. Michael Lange, R-Billings). This bill would have taken some of the interest earned on the Coal Trust Fund and use it to mitigate the impacts on government facilities, wildlife, or property owners from coal development. The Coal Board would have allocated the money. It is unclear how this proposal differed from the existing Coal Board programs. MEIC Position: Oppose. Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources and Energy committee 4/13/07. HB 533 (Rep. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip). This bill would increase the amount of money given to the Coal Board for distribution to areas impacted by coal development. Because some legislators foresee massive new coal development in Montana, they believe more money will be needed to deal with the impacts. MEIC Position: Neutral, but the increased funding should be tied directly to new development. Passed by Legislature — Vetoed by Governor 5/3/07. Override attempt did not receive required 2/3 vote of the members of each house. House vote to override veto was 52 FOR and 36 AGAINST; Senate vote to override veto was 26 FOR and 20 AGAINST. HB 688 (Rep. Alan Olson, R-Roundup). This is another bill that takes Coal Trust Fund interest, appropriating $250,000 annually to DEQ. DEQ is required to use the money to administer the coal and uranium regulatory programs. MEIC Position: SUPPORT. Passed by the Legislature — signed by Governor 04/26/2007. Became law. SB 268 (Sen. Keith Bales, R-Otter). SB 268 would have cut the coal severance tax in half. MEIC Position: Oppose. *The bill was tabled in the Senate Taxation Committee on 3/26/07.* COALBED METHANE BILLS HB 383 (Rep. Krayton Kerns, R-Laurel). This bill was one of the worst of the session. It would have allowed unlimited discharges of coalbed methane-produced water into impoundments in ephemeral drainages. It would have exempted the discharges from water quality standards and Montana’s non-degradation policy. MEIC Position: Oppose. *Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources and Energy committee 3/31/07.* SB 407 (Sen. Keith Bales, R-Otter). This bill would allow unlimited discharges of unknown quantities of water to existing CBM water impoundments. Under the guise of helping agriculture in drought conditions, it would allow CBM developers to circumvent discharge limitations. MEIC Position: Oppose. Passed by Legislature —Vetoed by Governor 5/8/07. OTHER BILLS HB 763 (Rep. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip) This bill would have reversed Montana’s existing ban on the disposal of radioactive waste, if the material comes from the mining or processing of uranium or thorium. The language that would have been changed by this bill was enacted as part of I-84, a citizens initiative that passed in 1980. MEIC Position: Oppose. *Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources and Energy Committee on 4/2/07.* Montana Environmental Information Center Street Address: 107 W Lawrence St. #N-10, Helena, MT 59601 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1184 Helena, MT 59624 Phone: (406) 443-2520, Fax: (406) 443-2507, meic@meic.org	Also See 1872 Mining Law Ban on Cyanide Mining 2007 Legislature

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Mining bills

HARDROCK MINING

COAL BILLS

COALBED METHANE BILLS

OTHER BILLS