Lawsuit Says DEQ Keeping Public in the Dark on Mining Decisions, Violating State Constitution

Lawsuit says DEQ keeping public in the dark on mining decisions, violating state Constitution

A sign near the entrance of Bull Mountains Mine No. 1 which is operated by Signal Peak Energy in Roundup, Montana (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).A new lawsuit filed by several conservation groups charges that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality is making hundreds of changes to mining permits that could affect the health of residents and environment, but which are beyond public scrutiny. They said the department’s ap…

Agricultural groups challenge Montana DEQ for sidestepping public input on coal permit changes - Western Environmental Law Center

Today Bull Mountain Land Alliance and Northern Plains Resource Council, represented by the Western Environmental Law Center, challenged the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) over the agency’s practice of approving coal mine permit changes behind closed doors, with no public notice and no opportunity for Montanans to weigh in. The complaint targets DEQ regulations […]