MONTANA ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTER INC

MEIC's goal is to preserve and protect the constitutional right of all Montanans to a clean and healthful environment.

A Voice at the State Legislature. One of MEIC’s most important activities is lobbying the State legislature on Montana environmental issues. It is the reason MEIC was founded, and since the 1974 legislative session MEIC has been the leading voice for the environment. Because of MEIC’s presence, the Montana environment is guaranteed to receive attention at the Capitol.

A Government Agency Watchdog. MEIC is Montana’s environmental “watchdog.” It has successfully influenced state and federal agencies for more than three decades, monitoring issues from old growth forest protection, to standards for coal bed methane development, to air and water pollution permits. When all else fails, MEIC utilizes litigation to ensure that environmental laws are complied with.

A Promoter and Protector of the Constitution. MEIC works hard to uphold the valuable rights afforded by Montana’s Constitution, including the inalienable right to a clean and healthful environment, the right to participate in and know about government operations, and the right to have all lands disturbed by the taking of natural resources reclaimed.

A Respected Media Source. MEIC has a long history of working with the mass media to raise public awareness and understanding of key environmental issues in Montana. Through writing opinion pieces and making its staff available to the press, MEIC makes sure that critical issues affecting the Montana environment receive the attention they deserve. MEIC provides a nonpartisan perspective, and is consistently quoted in a variety of Montana and national newspapers and other media.

A Grassroots Advocate and Public Educator. MEIC assists individuals and local organizations facing environmental problems by providing information, organizing and tactical advice, and technical assistance on Montana environmental issues. MEIC also has an active membership ready to submit comments, attend hearings, and go to pubic rallies when needed. MEIC regularly publishes newsletters and fact sheets to keep the public up to date on environmental issues in Montana.

Since its founding in 1973, MEIC has employed a diverse set of strategies and tactics to accomplish its mission. As a membership-based organization, MEIC’s seven person staff draws upon the strength of our network of over 11,000 supporters, donors, and subscribers for financial support and for activist engagement to advance our causes. MEIC’s “small but mighty” approach has, for example, prevented 464 million tons of carbon dioxide from going into the air, decreased mercury and heavy metal pollution from entering air, ground and surface waters each year, and banned the use of cyanide heap leach hardrock mining. From grassroots education and organizing work to direct lobbying, and, when necessary, strategic litigation-every day citizens and local, state and federal decision makers all depend upon MEIC for its expertise, credibility, persistence, and success. MEIC also regularly partners with and advises community organizations and small non-profits on environmental threats faced by their communities.

2020 MEIC and partners win a federal court challenge reinstating a Bureau of Land Management methane waste rule that the Trump administration attempted to dismantle.
2020 MEIC wins U.S. District Court challenge that results in the cancellation of oil and gas leases on over 145,000 acres of public land in Montana due to potential water quality and climate impacts.
2020 MEIC wins a Supreme Court victory striking down Montana Public Service Commission decisions that intentionally undermined renewable energy projects by weakening contract terms.
2020 Colstrip Units 1&2 permanently close in response to economic pressure combined with MEIC’s legal settlement requiring closure by 2022.
2019 MEIC leads successful legislative lobbying effort blocking multiple proposals to bailout NorthWestern Energy and its investment in the Colstrip Power Plant.
2019 MEIC wins two major Montana District court challenges against mines that would impact water quality and quantity in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness.
2019 MEIC wins court case against Montana Public Service Commission restoring contract lengths for renewable energy projects.
2019 MEIC blocks Spring Creek mine expansion in legal challenge on the argument that climate change impacts must be evaluated alongside mine benefits.
2018 MEIC wins lawsuit requiring enforcement of the Bureau of Land Management Methane Waste Rule without delay.
2017 MEIC wins lawsuit preventing expansion of Signal Peak Energy’s Bull Mountain Coal Mine due to lack of climate change impact evaluation.
2016 MEIC and partners prevent the development of the Tongue River Railroad and the Otter Creek coal mine.
2016 MEIC secures 2022 retirement deadline for the Colstrip Power Plant.
2015 MEIC wins a lawsuit protecting grizzly bear habitat on state lands in NW Montana.
2014 MEIC is instrumental in convincing WA regulators to limit further investments in Colstrip.
2013 MEIC wins a lawsuit requiring the U.S. EPA to regulate coal ash.
2012 MEIC wins a lawsuit that stopped the hauling of “mega-loads” of tar sands mining equipment over Lolo Pass and along the Blackfoot River and Rocky Mountain Front.
2010 MEIC leads the successful campaign to stop the proposed Highwood coal-fired power plant.
2007 Mercury standards for power plants adopted by the Board of Environmental Review.
2007 MEIC leads the successful campaign to stop the proposed Roundup coal-fired power plant.
2005 MEIC forms coalition that successfully lobbies legislature to adopt the Montana Renewable Energy Standard.
2002 MEIC keeps Holcim Cement Co. from burning tires, smelter slag, and hazardous waste.
1999 MEIC wins a lawsuit in which the Montana Supreme Court declares the constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment to be fundamental.
1998 Initiative 137, written and sponsored by MEIC, is passed by the voters, banning new cyanide heap-leach mines
1989 MEIC wins a lawsuit that stopped CENEX from oil drilling on the North Fork of the Flathead River