Overview
On September 27, 2023, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) kicked off an effort to thoughtfully review implementation of the Montana Environmental Policy Act, often referred to as MEPA. DEQ is opening a dialogue about whether and how the regulatory framework, enacted in the 1970s and 1980s, should be modernized to reflect the experiences of the past fifty years and the demands of today’s contemporary society.
As part of this effort, DEQ held four public listening sessions in October and November and opened a comment portal to hear creative suggestions and feedback from Montanans familiar with the MEPA process. Montanans were invited to share their thoughts about MEPA implementation and many responded. The comments received will inform ongoing conversations and serve as the foundation for work to be completed over the first half of 2024 by a diverse stakeholder group.
This page provides resources to help you participate in this process. View the schedule of upcoming work group meetings below, review meeting materials and recordings, or submit your written comments through the online comment portal.
Staff Contacts
Senior MEPA Coordinator
Craig Jones
Public Policy Director
Rebecca Harbage
Resources
Phase II : MEPA Work Group
On Jan. 8, 2024, DEQ announced the formation of a dedicated work group to further discuss the agency’s implementation of the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). Following a productive series of listening sessions and public comment opportunities in late-2023, DEQ looks forward to continuing the conversation with a diverse group of MEPA experts.
The work group will meet regularly throughout the first half of 2024. Meetings will be open to the public and provide opportunities for public comment. Following the work group’s deliberations, DEQ anticipates presenting a comprehensive report summarizing the conversation and offering actionable recommendations.
All meetings of the work group and subgroups will be posted below as they are scheduled. We will try to post meeting materials one week prior to the meeting. All meetings will be recorded and recordings will be linked in the table below when they are available.
| Type | Date | Time | How to Attend | Agenda & Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Work Group |
Jan. 22, 2024 |
3:00-4:30 p.m. |
DEQ Headquarters, room 111 Or via Zoom |
|
|
Subgroup: Public Engagement & Education |
Feb. 6, 2024 |
1:00-4:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Subgroup: Climate Analysis |
Feb. 9, 2024 |
3:30-5:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Subgroup: Process & Applicability |
Feb. 12, 2024 |
1:00-4:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Work Group |
Feb. 26, 2024 |
3:00-4:30 p.m. |
DEQ Headquarters, room 111 Or via Zoom |
|
|
Subgroup: Public Engagement & Education |
Mar. 5, 2024 |
1:00-4:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Subgroup: Climate Analysis |
Mar. 11, 2024 |
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Subgroup: Process & Applicability |
Mar. 11, 2024 |
1:00-4:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Work Group |
Apr. 1, 2024 |
3:00-4:30 p.m. |
DEQ Headquarters, room 111 Or via Zoom
|
|
|
Subgroup: Process & Applicability |
Apr. 8, 2024 |
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Subgroup: Climate Analysis |
Apr. 15, 2024 |
3:00-5:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Subgroup: Public Engagement & Education |
Apr. 16, 2024 |
1:00-4:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Work Group |
Apr. 29, 2024 |
3:00-4:30 p.m. |
DEQ Headquarters, room 111 Or via Zoom
|
|
|
Subgroup: Public Engagement & Education |
May 7, 2024 |
1:00-3:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Subgroup: Climate Analysis |
May 8, 2024 |
1:00-3:00p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Subgroup: Process & Applicability |
May 13, 2024 |
1:00-4:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
|
|
Work Group |
May 29, 2024 |
3:00-4:30 p.m. |
DEQ Headquarters, room 111 Or via Zoom |
|
|
Work Group |
June 27, 2024 |
4:00-5:00 p.m. |
Via Zoom |
Updated Jan. 8, 2024
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Sen. Pat Flowers | Legislator |
| Sen. Greg Hertz | Legislator |
| Sen. Keith Regier | Legislator |
| Rep. Steve Gist | Legislator |
| Rep. Jonathan Karlen | Legislator |
| Rep. Rhonda Knudsen | Legislator |
| Jon Bennion | Washington Companies |
| Gordon Criswell | Talen Montana |
| Clayton Elliott | Montana Trout Unlimited |
| Krista Lee Evans | Blake Creek Project Management; Montana Irrigators |
| Darryl James | Consultant |
| Rich Janssen, Jr. | Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes |
| Derf Johnson | Montana Environmental Information Center |
| Jen Lane | Stillwater Mining Company |
| Chelsea Liddell | Private Citizen |
| Remy Sexton | Student, Park High Green Initiative |
| David Smith | Montana Contractors' Association |
| Dan Spencer | University of Montana |
| Dick Thweatt | Private Citizen |
| Peggy Trenk | Private Citizen |
Phase I : Public Listening Sessions
View Comments Submitted via DEQ’s Online Portal: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4e14fb535c034e08bcf87c6c2a113c9d
Public Listening Sessions:
- Session 1 – Oct. 2, 6:00-8:00p.m., Billings Convention Center
- Session 2 – Oct. 18, 6:00-8:00p.m., Delta Colonial Hotel
- Session 3 – Oct. 19, 6:00-8:00p.m., University Center South Ballroom
- Session 4 - Nov. 1, 3:00-5:00p.m., Online Only