Montana Department of Environmental Quality

This summer was hot and water levels in many places were low. Those are ripe conditions for harmful algal blooms. But state environmental regulators say reports of blooms are lower than previous years.

MTPR's Ellis Juhlin sits down with the outgoing director of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

MTPR's Ellis Juhlin sits down with the incoming director of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to talk about the plans for her position.

Northwestern Energy recently withdrew from a grant agreement with Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality to build nine high speed electric vehicle chargers across the state.

Montana’s top environmental regulatory agency is under new leadership. The new director takes office amidst ongoing changes, legal challenges and preparations for the next legislative session.

State lawmakers in 2021 directed Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality to change rules about nutrient pollution in waterways. Now, state environmental regulators have scrapped draft rules for new water quality standards.

New water quality standards proposed by the state in late April prompted a wide range of opposition at a public hearing Monday. It's now up to DEQ to decide how to move forward.

The state departments of transportation, and environmental quality will be under new leadership beginning July 1.

Earlier this year, a court ordered state environmental regulators to consider climate impacts when assessing proposed development projects. Now, a working group tasked with reviewing this state policy has come up with draft recommendations.

The Montana Supreme Court has heard opening arguments in a case that asks if state regulators should consider climate change in their decisions. The case centers on the permitting of a methane-fired power plant.