Environment

The Missoula County Commission decided to hold off on issuing a land use permit for a proposed gravel pit along the Blackfoot River; Montana wildlife officials are asking the public for information about a cow elk shot two miles south of Polebridge.

Wolves are among Yellowstone's most popular sights – so popular and so closely watched they can become accustomed to seeing people. But when wolves leave the park, that familiarity can turn deadly for them. MTPR's Elinor Smith spoke with Nick Mott, who dug into what happens when the animals cross park boundaries.

Recent changes to federal environmental rules mean some logging projects are moving forward without public input. Tristan Scott works for the Flathead Beacon, and has been covering a 13,000-acre logging project moving forward west of Blacktail Mountain in the Flathead. He sat down with MTPR’s Elinor Smith to share his reporting.

The town of Belt has worked with the state for decades to tackle issues left by the Anaconda Coal Mine. A new multimillion-dollar water treatment facility will finally fix that. The plant will clean the acid drainage before discharging it back into the creek.

Missoula County residents are trying to prevent a gravel pit from opening along the Blackfoot River. State lawmakers made it easier for local officials to approve projects like these.

A nonprofit nature reserve in Montana is suing the state. American Prairie argues the state needs to decide whether to grant their six-year-old request for permits to graze bison on state lands.

Montana's largest utility this year struck deals to power three data centers — and counting. NorthWestern Energy has promised them at least twice the amount of electricity used to power all homes and businesses in the state. As data centers look to break ground in Montana, some worry ratepayers will have to subsidize their colossal power needs.

With winter approaching, a creek restoration project is wrapping up in the Bitterroot Mountains. Crossing the finish line was hard won. The project faced mounting challenges from federal funding cuts and layoffs. Uncertainty over federal support adds more hurdles for future improvements.

In a reversal, federal wildlife managers won't issue a national wolf recovery plan; Hunters unscathed after grizzly bear charge.

BLM continues oil and gas approvals despite federal shutdown; Environmental groups are petitioning the state to stop issuing pollution discharge permits until new standards can be set; The Montana State Prison has the green light to resume water use in all areas of the facility after a water line broke in October.