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Water Quality bills
The following is a list of bills pertaining to Water Quality that MEIC followed at the 2007 Legislature, and their final status:
SB 200 (Sen. Dave Lewis, R-Helena): This bill allows the State to file a Natural Resource Damage Lawsuit in order to recover damages associated with the Mike Horse mine site, which would provide funding for restoration. MEIC position: SUPPORT
- Passed by Legislature — Signed into Law by Governor.
SB 345 (Sen. Bob Hawks, D-Bozeman) This bill would have required all new homes and commercial buildings to be set back at least 250 ft from the ordinary high water mark of "Tier 1" streams and 150 ft from "Tier 2" streams. It also would have prohibited the removal of native vegetation, kept new roads away from rivers and streams if practicable alternatives exist, and allowed counties to adopt their own setback standards that are based on sound science. MEIC position: SUPPORT. SEE FACT SHEET ON SB 345.
HB 383 (Rep. Krayton Kerns, R-Laurel): This bill would have allowed water quality standards to be exceeded and would have allowed discharge water into an impoundment on an ephemeral stream if produced in association with coal bed methane wells and if certain criteria are met. MEIC position: OPPOSE.
- Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources and Energy Committee 3/31/07.
HB 205 (Rep. George Everett, R-Kalispell). This bill would have severely restricted the ability of Montanans to petition for controlled ground water areas. Controlled ground water areas are established by DNRC when ground water is being over-appropriated and affecting the rights of existing users, most typically in areas that are being heavily subdivided. MEIC position: OPPOSE.
- Bill tabled in (S) Natural Resources and Energy Committee 3/31/07.
HB 304 (Rep. Kevin Furey, D-Missoula). This bill creates a new interim legislative committee to deal specifically with water issues, both water quality and water use. MEIC Position: Support.
- Passed by Legislature — Signed into Law by Governor.