Montana State Legislature

The EQC is a state legislative committee created by the 1971 Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). The EQC has 17 members: 6 senators; 6 representatives; 4 public members; and 1 nonvoting member who represents the Governor. The statutory duties of the Council are described in 75-1-324, MCA, of MEPA and in other sections of the Montana Code Annotated.

Committee Members

SENATOR
MIKE LANG (R) --Chair

REPRESENTATIVE
WILLIS CURDY (D)

REPRESENTATIVE
PAUL FIELDER (R)

SENATOR
PAT FLOWERS (D)

REPRESENTATIVE
STEVE GUNDERSON (R)

SENATOR
STEVE HINEBAUCH (R)

REPRESENTATIVE
JEDEDIAH HINKLE (R)

SENATOR
TOM JACOBSON (D)

REPRESENTATIVE
JIM KEANE (D)

SENATOR
RYAN LYNCH (D)

REPRESENTATIVE
MARILYN MARLER (D)

SENATOR
CARY SMITH (R)

Public Members

July 19, 2022: Agenda - Minutes -Audio / Video

May 25, 2022: Agenda - Minutes - Audio / Video

May 24, 2022: Agenda - Minutes - Audio / Video

March 23, 2022: Agenda - Minutes - Audio / Video

March 22, 2022: Agenda - Minutes - Audio / Video

January 25, 2022: Agenda - Minutes -Audio / Video

January 24, 2022: Agenda - Minutes - Audio / Video

September 15, 2021: Agenda - Minutes - Audio / Video

September 14, 2021: Agenda - Minutes - Audio / Video

July 20, 2021:  Agenda -  Minutes Log- Audio / Video

Assigned Studies

HJ 27 - Study of funding for conservation districts

Committee Topics

Pheasant Rearing Operation

• Decision Notice for the Programmatic Environmental Assessment, FWP
• Supplement to the Decision Notice for the Programmatic Environmental Assessment, FWP
• News Article on Pheasant Rearing Program, Helena Independent Record

Habitat Montana

• Habitat Montana January 2021 Report, FWP
• Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment, FWP
• Habitat Conservation Lease Frequently Asked Questions Report, FWP

Opencut Mining Update

• Changes to the Opencut Mining Act Infographic, LSD

Wildland Fire & Air Quality reports

• Plumes of Data: Air Quality & ER Visits Report, LSD
• Eastern US Mortality Air Quality Report, AGU
• Delayed Effect of Wildfire Season on Influenza Season Journal Article

Enforcement Reports

• Pesticide and Groundwater Enforcement Report, MDA
  • Groundwater Protection Program Slides, MDA

Public Elk Hunting Access

• Public Elk Hunting Access Agreement Program Summary 2012-2021 - FWP
  • Public Elk Hunting Access Rules - 12-9-905
  • Public Elk Hunting Access Statute - MCA 87-2-513

Brown Trout Regulations

• Big Hole River Brown Trout Fishing Regulations - Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)
• 2021 Brown Trout Regulation Alternatives - FWP

Rule Review

Advisory Council Review

Agency Oversight

• Department of Environmental Quality
  • Sanitation Procedures Report
  • Litigation Report
  • State Buildings Energy Conservation Program Report
• Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
  • Sage Grouse Population Report
  • Funding MOU for sage grouse conservation between FWP and DNRC
  • Litigation Report
• Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Cabin Sale Site Report
  • Clark Fork River Remediation and Restoration Fact Sheet
  • Litigation Report

Required Reports

Resources and Publications

• MEPA
• Permitting Index
• Environmental Indicators
• Other publications
• 2021 natural resource legislation summary

The EQC will determine over the course of the 2021-22 interim whether to pursue any legislative proposals arising out of its work.

Committee rules, adopted July 20, 2021

Draft Work plan

• Program estimates
• FWP Organization Chart
• DEQ Organization Chart
• DRNC Organization Chart

Public comment guidelines

Legislator reimbursement form