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Business Groups Win Out over Montana Greenhouse Gas Proposals

By The Associated Press

Story Created: Jan 14, 2010 at 1:45 PM MST

Story Updated: Jan 14, 2010 at 1:45 PM MST

HELENA, Mont. - The Montana Board of Environmental Review has formally dropped plans to start developing the state's first greenhouse gas rules.

The board had been planning to take public comment on the issue and draft regulations in response to pending federal Environmental Protection Agency mandates.

But last week, a legislative oversight panel told the state board to slow down. And the Environmental Quality Council threatened to scuttle the plans altogether if it didn't like the end product.

In the wake of those decisions, the state regulatory arm met Thursday over the telephone and terminated its rulemaking on permitting thresholds for greenhouse gas emissions. A Jan. 22 public hearing was also canceled.

The state argued it would be better to have rules in place easing in EPA guidelines. But critics led by business groups say it will be better to wait and see what happens.

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