[MCN] Tell DEQ on Thursday that it must consider the climate crisis

[David Merrill]

Preview text: DEQ has the tools available to evaluate climate change, and
must do so NOW!

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently announced a
comment period, <https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/MEPA-09-2023>
set of listening sessions, and a stakeholder group, including a public
hearing this Thursday, Oct. 19 from 6 pm-8 pm at the UC South Ballroom
University of Montana, in Missoula, to accept public comment on how it will
consider the environmental, economic and social impacts of proposed
projects that harm the air, land, and water under the Montana Environmental
Policy Act (MEPA). DEQ is specifically asking how it should consider
climate change in its analysis. In reality, DEQ has several tools and hard
science available to analyze the climate impacts associated with carbon
emissions, and does not need a year(s)-long process. They can start today.
Any attempt by DEQ to avoid analyzing climate change, starting today, is
stalling and avoiding what is required of the agency under Montana’s
constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment and the Montana
youth climate lawsuit, Held v. Montana.

There are some other items connected to the Missoula listening session that
we want to invite you to:

Sign-making, Comment Prep and Pizza! Emmaus House; 532 University Ave.;
Missoula 5:00 pm


March from Emmaus House Across the Oval to the UC; 5:30 pm

Rally with youth speakers on UC steps; 5:40 pm

DEQ/MEPA listening session begins; 6:00 pm


It is critical for Montanans of all stripes to show up, in-person, and tell
DEQ that it must start analyzing climate impacts immediately. DEQ should
stop stalling and do as the court required under Held. The crisis is
urgent, DEQ must follow the Montana Constitution, and that means protecting
our right to a stable climate.

Here is a fact sheet to help you prepare your comments:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U8HLvkdRA1Rb6xKnjxW7VJAuKzrqEI1B_ZYCjuaOrwM/edit

For further information:  david.merrill at sierraclub.org

~
David

-- 
David Merrill
Senior Organizing Representative
Sierra Club
Missoula, MT
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