Gravel Week Comes to the Legislature

February 8, 2009 in 2009 Legislative Session, Environment, Montana, Water Quality

by jhwygirl

Monday starts off with Rep. JP Pomnichowski’s proposals HB359, which would require public notice for open cut mining (gravel pit) permits and HB313, which would revise open cut mining permit regulations, and allow counties to permit operations. This one gives back to counties that which was removed in the 2005 legislative session that (initially) was attempting to remedy a bad, bad situation in a residential neighborhood in the Flathead.

Rep. Bill Nooney competes with Pomnichowski’s HB359, by proposing HB77, which also proposes a notification requirement for open pit mines.

Now – both of these proposals have similar elements, but Pomnichowski’s HB359 goes a few steps further with adding elements of what is required to be contained within the public notification documents.

Support Pomnichowski’s bill by telling the House Natural Resources committee that both bills are good, but that HB359 goes a step further in defining the specifics of content in the public notification documents.

On Wednesday, Pomnichoswki has HB446 which would revise open cut mining laws by requiring water monitoring in certain situations and control of water runoff. It provides for legal action when there is damage to the water supply, provides for a write of mandamus and allows awarding of attorney fees. A big YES to this one….

Still, yet, on Wednesday – and still coming from Rep. Pomnichowski – is HB429, which would require annual fees for opencut mining operations.

Pomnichowski, still, with HB447 which would require reviews and limit expansions of certain opencut mining operations.

Rep. Jill Cohenour has HB319 which would require that proof of all other permit applications are submitted as part of the permitting process for opencut mining.

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All of these are in the House Natural Resources committee. Below are the members, along with their contact information. Remember – the first hearings start on Monday. You know the mining industry will be out in force on these…so make your thoughts and support known for these bills. Take the time, too, to forward a link to this post to your friends and neighbors and anyone else who cares about water quality, air quality and neighborhood control. This isn’t just a Missoula issue – it’s a statewide issue that has affected people in Bozeman and Helena and Kalispell – just to name a few.

Mike Milburn (Chair) mmilburn@mcn.net
Gordon Hendrick (Vice Chair) hendrickhd14@yahoo.com
JP Pomnichowski (Vice Chair) pomnicho@montanadsl.net
Tony Belcourt tbelcourt@hotmail.com
Gerald Bennett jbenhd1@hotmail.com
Anders Blewett anders.blewett@gmail.com
Jill Cohenour utopiamt@prodigy.net
Sue Dickenson suedickenson@yahoo.com
Betsy Hands betsyhands@gmail.com
Brian Hoven (you need to use the online form to contact him)
Tom McGillvray tmcgillvray@bresnan.net
Mike Menahan mike@mikemenahan.com
Scott Mendenhall smendenhall@ineva.com
Mike Miller (you need to use the online form to contact him)
Michele Reinhart michelereinhart@gmail.com
Kendall Van Dyk kvandyk@mt.gov
Chas Vincent cvvincent@hotmail.com
Wendy Warburton wendywarburton@gmail.com

Remember – these are committee members. Feel free to contact each and every one of them.