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 Montanans
have a constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment.
Montana state water quality standards must be strengthened and
enforced to the same levels that were in place prior to the 1995
Montana legislature when water quality standards were significantly
reduced. The legislature argued that Montana's clean water standards
were discouraging job growth. Today we have some of the lowest
water quality standards in the country, along with some of the
lowest wages as well.
The
Department of Environmental Quality must strictly enforce and
monitor compliance with water quality standards. The Montana State
Board of Environmental Review must ensure that laws and rules
designed to keep Montana waters clean are correctly interpreted
and no further pollution should be allowed in the waters of the
state.
A
healthy environment is key to Montana's economic future. We can
have good paying jobs with clean air and water. ~
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The
1995 legislature weakened Montana's water quality laws by
approving the following actions
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Arsenic
risk-level standards were weakened by a factor of 1000;
Clean
water laws were changed to be reactive rather than preventive
and protective;
The
discharge of untreated ground water can now be pumped onto
surface water without a permit;
In
eastern Montana, state water was reclassified to allow pollution
of marginal waters, especially ground water;
The
ability of Montanans to keep water clean was limited when
the state considers pollution permits or activities that
diminish water quality.
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