On Tap for Montana Elections: Coal, Coal, Coal and Growth

By Pete Talbot, 4-25-06

Here are the environmental issues that the 2007 Montana Legislature will have to deal with: coal, coal, coal and growth.

Granted, before the legislature meets next year, there's a primary election in June and a general election in November. No matter who wins, though, bills will be introduced that concern coal drilling and mining, and the rampant growth in some parts of our state (or the lack of it in the other parts).

The coal bills will include drilling for coal bed methane gas and Gov. Schweitzer's coal-to-diesel gasification project.

The coal bed methane bills will feature tightening water discharge standards -- or loosening water discharge standards -- depending on who's carrying the bill. Also on the horizon is just how big the reclamation bonds need to be for these coal/methane operations.

The governor's proposed coal-to-diesel gasification project will most likely be on the agenda but nobody's sure in what form. There are still a lot of data missing: how much of Eastern Montana are we going to rip up, how much carbon dioxide will be produced and where will it go, and how much water is required and where does it come from.

A lot of these coal issues are also water issues, with some quality of life and quality of air concerns thrown into the mix. In this state, especially the eastern part of the state, the allocation of water has always been controversial. We have cities, farms and ranches, mining interests, conservationists and recreationists all competing for a scarce resource.

We'll hear the time-honored economic debate of jobs or the environment. Some elected officials will look across the border at Wyoming and see high-paying jobs and a growing tax base that funds education, infrastructure and social services. Others will see a blighted landscape, leaking saltwater ponds, and a boom-and-bust economy.

There'll also be continued debate on the Major Facilities Siting Act, particularly with how it affects some proposed coal-fired generators.

Then there's the North Fork of the Flathead, where water quality could suffer at the hands of a Canadian coal-mining operation. No simple solution here, either, as it involves two nations, a province and a state.

It will be interesting to see which candidates (and incumbents) weigh in on coal development, and on what side, although it could take a couple of legislative sessions to hammer it all out.

There are folks that don't consider growth an environmental issue but Montana conservation organizations see it as increasingly important to the environmental health of our state. They're worried about the loss of agricultural lands and wildlife habitat.

They have questions about transportation planning and other infrastructure issues. They're concerned about potential air and water degradation. (There's that word water again.)

Serious legislation on urban and suburban growth should surface in 2007. This is rather new territory for the legislature and interesting alliances could be formed. Fast growing cities and their neighboring rural communities could be at odds with Montana's economically-stagnant towns and really rural counties. Look for legislation coming out of Gallatin, Missoula, and even Flathead and Ravalli Counties.

No doubt there will be other environmental bills considered at next year's session: the Rocky Mountain Front, ethanol and biodiesel, hunting and fishing access, to name a few. But coal and growth should take up the lion's share of environmental discussion because both issues play into the schizophrenia known as Montana politics: short-term solutions versus long-term goals, urban versus rural, the economy versus the environment. These old conundrums aren't mutually exclusive and one would hope that there's some new consensus building instead of our historic antagonism.

No word yet on whether there'll be any elected officials advancing smart growth and sustainable development bills, or conservation and alternative energy legislation. Right now it looks like environmental politics are all about how much we're going to compromise our environment.

The 2006 primary and general elections will help decide which bills prevail.
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