Montana DEQ Launches MEPA Work Group to Enhance Public Engagement and Environmental Policy Implementation
HELENA—The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is pleased to announce 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.
“When we launched the public listening sessions last year, I asked Montanans to share their thoughts about MEPA,” said DEQ Director Chris Dorrington. “I’m grateful to every person who took time out of their busy lives to provide input on this important topic. The hundreds of comments DEQ has collected over the last few months confirm that there is work to do.”
In September 2023, DEQ initiated a statewide effort to foster meaningful public and stakeholder engagement on the topic of MEPA implementation today and into the future. The response from Montanans was overwhelming, with participants from diverse backgrounds sharing valuable insights during listening sessions and through written comments. DEQ is now reviewing the nearly 300 comments and plans to shape future conversations around several key themes.
Based on public comment themes, the work group will initially focus on the following areas:
- Sustaining and improving robust public engagement under MEPA.
- Addressing implementation and applicability challenges of MEPA – clarity, consistency, communication and procedural continuity.
- Determining the applicability and scope of a greenhouse gas inventory and disclosure and climate impact analyses.
- Informing next steps for broad and sustained MEPA education and outreach.
“This is a complex topic. As an agency, we implement MEPA alongside many other environmental laws covering a wide variety of activities,” Dorrington said. “Requirements often differ between programs and MEPA does not always align with what is required under permitting laws. As we have seen recently in the press, this results in confusion about timelines and requirements that appear to conflict, leaving the public uncertain about the best way to participate in environmental policy decisions.”
“We can do better to transparently communicate our work with the public,” Dorrington continued, “but we are subject to the authorities and constraints provided in law. This public process is an opportunity to pull together people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives and work on recommendations for DEQ or, if the law needs updating, for the 2025 legislature.”
The first work group meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on Jan. 22 at DEQ's Helena office in Room 111. The meeting will also be accessible online or by phone. For more information about the work group, including a list of work group members, or to learn how to attend the meeting, please visit: https://deq.mt.gov/about/MEPA
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. DEQ remains committed to transparency, collaboration and continuous improvement in environmental policy implementation.
“I respect that not everyone agrees about the intent and purpose of MEPA, but as people who care deeply about the health of Montana’s environment and communities, we must come together to find durable solutions,” said Dorrington. “I ask the public to stay engaged in this process and help shape the future of MEPA for our state.”
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