By Terry Punt Northern Plains Resource Council, and Leland James Turner Powder River Basin Resource Council A federal judge ruled in March that the federal government’s plans to open up the entire Powder River Basin to 10 billion tons of coal leasing violated the law. As ranchers in the Powder River Basin who deal with […]
Gas that leaks or flares from America’s public lands benefits no one. That’s why regulations to prevent waste can provide broad benefits. Contrary to that common sense conclusion, the Trump administration has been trying to undo waste prevention rules finalized at the end of 2016 after years of public comment and study. “The BLM is […]
INCLUDES AUDIO Eric Tegethoff CIRCLE, Mont. — Montana is suffering from wildfires and possibly the worst drought in 30 years, bringing lots of pain to farmers and ranchers. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 12 percent of the state is experiencing “exceptional drought,” the highest level measured. The northeastern part of the state has been […]
The Keystone XL Pipeline would transport tar sands oil 1,900 miles from Alberta, through Montana to Texas. I oppose it because: High potential to contaminate our drinking water. KXL would cross both of Montana’s major rivers: the Missouri and the Yellowstone. Two massive spills on Yellowstone River have happened since KXL was proposed. The pipeline […]
From record wildfires to drought to intense storms, we can’t ignore the increasingly severe effects that climate change is causing for Montana and the world. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to address this problem. What kind of people are we if we just dump it in their laps? The pollution that puts […]
President Donald Trump has chosen to leave the Paris Climate Accord AMA — against medical advice. AMA is the term used when a person leaves a health care setting despite the recommendations of the providers, putting themselves at risk of worsening their condition. Not only is Trump’s action against the advice of physicians, but also scientists, […]
I’m writing to thank Seth Newton of Glendive for his April 30 guest editorial titled, “No rules at Montana’s radioactive dump,” and to echo his call for better landowner and water protections around radioactive oil waste disposal in our state. Like Newton, my family ranches right next to Oaks Disposal. Oaks is the first and, […]
It’s not often that we see bills in the legislature that help homeowners and businesses, generate jobs, and support our economy but cost nothing to the taxpayer. But Senate Bill 330 does just that, allowing property owners to invest in clean energy. Known as Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE), this bill will boost investment in […]
The Legislature is struggling to come up with a state budget, some saying that revenues are not there to fund many government responsibilities. This means that programs to support children, the elderly, the sick, our public libraries, our schools and many other services that Montanans rely on could be cut. But, at the same time, […]
Senate Bill 155 is an egregious overreach by out of state groups to take local control from Montanans. This bill would change Montana seed laws and take away power from the hands of our local officials, which is where it has been for decades, and where it should stay. The language from SB155 can be […]