Provide for appeals of various DEQ permit decisions

SB 559 establishes a formal appeals process for individuals or groups who disagree with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) decisions on permits for air quality, water quality, or mining activities (including coal, uranium, and metal mines). It requires a $100 fee and a 30-day filing deadline to appeal to either a DEQ board or a district court in the county where the project is proposed. The bill specifies that appeals for projects costing over $1 million must be prioritized in court. This procedural bill, which did not become law (it "died in process" in 2025), would have changed how permit disputes are handled but did not alter environmental standards or permit requirements.