The bill establishes a greenhouse gas assessment process under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) by revising existing legal language to provide clear directives for environmental reviews concerning greenhouse gas emissions. It mandates that state agencies conduct assessments for proposed fossil fuel activities while allowing discretion for other actions as necessary. The bill clarifies that assessments are not required for actions exempt from review or for categorical exclusions. Key amendments include the removal of previous restrictions on evaluating greenhouse gas emissions and the insertion of provisions requiring the Department of Environmental Quality to develop guidance for these assessments. The legislation emphasizes that greenhouse gases will not be regulated under MEPA, addressing regulatory uncertainties from recent court decisions.

Additionally, the bill updates several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to refine definitions and procedures related to environmental reviews. It replaces references to "the human environment" with "Montana's environment" and clarifies the definition of "economic impacts" to focus on the local economy. The bill also allows individuals or entities seeking permits to intervene in lawsuits challenging state agency decisions and prohibits awarding attorney fees to the prevailing party in noncompliance actions. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions and streamline the environmental review process in Montana while maintaining agency authority in permitting decisions.

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