Montana's new coal-friendly laws draw legal challenges
Just weeks old, new Montana laws intended to clear legal challenges to coal mining have landed in court. At issue are two laws passed by the Montan...
Just weeks old, new Montana laws intended to clear legal challenges to coal mining have landed in court. At issue are two laws passed by the Montana Legislature this spring, one that allows violations of water quality standards, a second that allows mining companies to collect legal fees from people challenging state permits. The Department of Environmental Quality, Director Christopher Dorrington and Mine Bureau Chief Dan Walsh are named as defendants. The lawsuit is just the latest of a half-dozen legal challenges to laws passed recently by the Montana Legislature, as lawmakers adopted a 'let the courts figure it out' approach to law making and Gov Greg Gianforte requested $2.