Environment

SB 221 revises the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) by establishing new requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) assessments during state agency environmental reviews. Under this bill, state agencies are mandated to conduct GHG assessments for proposed actions classified as "fossil fuel activities." For other proposed actions, agencies may conduct a GHG assessment if deemed necessary for MEPA compliance. The bill clarifies that these assessments are for informational purposes, and state agencies cannot regulate greenhouse gas emissions or deny permits based solely on these GHG assessments under MEPA. This affects Montana state agencies conducting environmental reviews and entities proposing fossil fuel-related projects.

SB 190 allows individuals or entities applying for new water use permits or changes to existing water rights to streamline their application process. This is achieved by enabling existing water right holders to voluntarily provide written consent. If consent is given, the applicant is no longer required to prove that their proposed water use will not negatively affect the specific consenting water rights. This change aims to simplify the permit approval process under certain conditions.

HB 64 repeals Montana's Small Business Compliance Assistance Advisory Council and removes its references from air quality regulations. The bill amends the duties of a small business stationary source representative, eliminating requirements for them to consult with the now-repealed council. This directly affects Montana small businesses subject to air quality regulations, as the council previously provided input on compliance challenges. The change streamlines the representative's role by removing council-related obligations while keeping their core responsibilities for assisting small businesses with regulatory compliance.