Tag Archives: Public Policy

Board of Environmental Review Meeting: February 5, 2016

By Public Policy, ,

Board of Environmental Review Meeting: February 5, 2016

Summary Items:

  • The EPA approved Montana’s Water Quality Standards for EC and SAR adopted in 2003 and 2006. DEQ staff noted the action would have no impact on their work as the State had already been applying the new standards. It does mean those standards will be applied to federal actions.
  • The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reported they are still collecting data for electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium absorption rate (SAR) on Otter Creek for purposes of determining site specific water quality standards. They are working with stakeholders and the EPA to apply the “narrative” standards. Direction is needed for purposes of implementing Section 75-5-306 (MCA) that speaks to not having to treat water that is discharged to a level that exceeds the naturally occurring condition.

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2014 Jerome Anderson Award

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Jerome Anderson 2014The Treasure State Resources Association (TSRA) presented the 2014 Jerome Anderson Award to Dan Flynn of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 44 at its 38th annual meeting in Kalispell September 16th. The Jerome Anderson Award, named for the longtime lobbyist, lawyer, former legislator and former Western Environmental Trade Association/TSRA President who passed away in 2009, is awarded for “outstanding leadership in the legislative or regulatory process or with the public while exemplifying the highest level of integrity.”

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Using Legislative History

By Public Policy, ,

The term “legislative history” can mean two different things. First, “legislative history” refers to the chronological progress of a bill through the legislative process from its introduction to its enactment into law. In the legal field, however, “legislative history,” also often refers to the collection of documents that are created during that process. Judges and attorneys often turn to these documents to try to determine why the legislature enacted a particular law or to aid in the interpretation of a portion of the law. This process of using legislative history to interpret a law is often referred to as finding the “legislative intent” behind the law.

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