Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Montana conservationists say water quality near coal mines needs protection

Two conservation groups representing citizens and landowners in southeastern Montana filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging that the state Department of Environmental Quality is not doing enough to protect streams from coal mining. Officials with the groups, which represent ranchers, sportsmen and conservationists from that part of the state, said their way of life is threatened by poorly planned expansion of the mine. "Water is my life. Without it, I don't run cattle, I don't ranch, I don't have a business," said Doug McRae, who ranches cattle near Colstrip. "And so far, the state regulators who are supposed to be protecting our waterways seem to be asleep at the switch." The lawsuit asks the court to force the DEQ to require Westmoreland Coal Co. to take additional actions to address water-quality issues before granting permits for the expansion. McRae and other Montanans say they have tried repeatedly to get the DEQ to follow through on its legal duty to ensure that coal mining doesn't harm the quality and quantity of ground and surface waters in Montana. McRae said the case is not only important for him, but for all ranchers who operate near future coal mines anywhere in Montana...more

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