US Edition
New Montana Law Threatens Private Property Rights, Endangers Agriculture
- Eastern Montana rancher Terry Punt and his community face challenges from a new state law weakening environmental protections in 2024.
- This law, HB 285 sponsored by Republican Rep. Brandon Ler, undermines the Montana Environmental Policy Act , which since 1971 has protected property rights and public input.
- MEPA has historically allowed Montanans to influence development projects that impact agriculture and environment, unlike HB 285 which removes meaningful public participation amid risks from unproven industrial technologies.
- Coalbed methane development in the 1990s polluted groundwater and irrigation sources like the Tongue River, showing the damage unchecked projects can cause, while current Carbon Capture and Sequestration efforts raise similar concerns.
- With over three million acres conserved through easements to protect farmland, advocates warn HB 285 could endanger Montana’s agriculture and environment by enabling industrial experiments without community consent.
30 Articles
30 Articles
Helena Independent Record
New Montana law threatens private property rights, endangers agriculture
HB 285 completely guts MEPA. It removes any meaningful opportunity for Montanans to have a say about projects that could harm our property
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