The bill amends the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) to require greenhouse gas assessments during environmental reviews for fossil fuel activities. It mandates state agencies to conduct these assessments when necessary, while clarifying that such assessments are not required for actions exempt from review or for categorical exclusions. The legislation revises existing legal language in sections 75-1-201, 75-1-202, and 75-1-220 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), including the removal of certain subsections and the insertion of new directives regarding greenhouse gas assessments. The bill also emphasizes that while emissions will be analyzed, they will not be regulated under MEPA, addressing concerns about agency authority raised by the Montana Supreme Court.

Additionally, the bill establishes that challenges to agency decisions must be based on formal comments submitted before the final decision and outlines the judicial review process. It introduces a framework for assessing economic implications of relief on local and state economies, stipulates conditions for granting injunctive relief, and allows individuals or entities seeking permits to intervene in lawsuits against state agency decisions. Key amendments include changing "the human environment" to "Montana's environment," clarifying definitions related to environmental reviews, and outlining conditions for assessing fees for environmental impact statements. The bill is set to take effect upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_1(1): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_1(2): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_1(3): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_1(4): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_1(5): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_1(6): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_1(7): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_1(8): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_1(9): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_1: 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2(1): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2(10): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2(2): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2(3): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2(4): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2(5): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2(6): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2(7): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2(8): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2(9): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_2: 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_X(1): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_X(2): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_X(3): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_X(4): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_X(5): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_X(6): 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220
SB0221_X: 75-1-201, 75-1-202, 75-1-220