🌪️Presidential Disaster Declaration for Crow Tribe in Montana
This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance only for the Crow Tribe of Montana (FEMA-4887-DR), dated September 11, 2025. Incident: Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding.
Learn More⛏️Notice of Federal Coal Lease Sale for Navajo Transitional Energy
Notice is hereby given that Federal coal resources in lands in Big Horn County, Montana, will be offered for competitive lease by sealed bid in accordance with the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended.
Learn More🌁Montana's Regional Haze Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) submission submitted by the State of Montana on August 10, 2022, under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. Montana's 2022 SIP submission addresses the requirement that states revise their long-term strategies every implementation period to make reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal areas. Montana's 2022 SIP submission also addresses other applicable requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze program. The EPA is also proposing to approve the prong 4 visibility portion of Montana's October 1, 2018 Infrastructure SIP submission for the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The EPA is taking these actions pursuant to the CAA.
Learn More🌿Comment Opportunity on Greater Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is soliciting comments on significant changes to the Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) for Greater Sage-grouse Rangewide Planning released in November 2024. The environmental consequences of the proposed changes have been analyzed as part of the RMPA/environmental impact statement (EIS) process. Following consideration of any comments on these changes, the BLM will issue Records of Decision (ROD) for the Approved RMPAs for Idaho, Montana/Dakotas, Nevada/California, Utah, and Wyoming.
Learn More⛏️Montana Surface Mining Regulatory Program Proposed Amendment Review
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Montana regulatory program (the Montana program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Montana submitted this proposed amendment to us, on its own initiative, following the passage of Montana House Bill 633 (HB 633) during the 2025 legislative session. Montana proposes several changes to the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Montana proposes that objections to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) decisions are limited to issues previously raised in a comment or written objection submitted during the relevant comment period. The submittal also requires cumulative hydrologic impact assessments to be published along with DEQ's acceptability determination. Also, Montana adds contingencies in HB 633 that will not be codified into law but that will apply to the proposed amendment: "Saving clause," "Severability," "Contingent voidness," and "Effective date."
Learn More⚒️Draft Environmental Assessment for Navajo Energy Coal Lease Modifications
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) announce that a draft environmental assessment (EA) is available. The draft EA analyzes the Navajo Transitional Energy Company's Federal coal lease modification application (LMA), serial number MTM 110693, and lease-by-application (LBA) and mining plan, MTM 105485-01, for Spring Creek Mine. The BLM also announces that a public hearing will be held to receive comments on the Fair Market Value (FMV), Maximum Economic Recovery (MER), and on factors that may affect the FMV and MER determinations of the coal resources contained in the proposed LBA lease tracts. The BLM and OSMRE take these actions in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended; the Mineral Leasing Act, as amended; and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended.
Learn More📅SJI Board of Directors Meeting Notice on Grant Applications
The purpose of this meeting is to consider grant applications for the 4th quarter of FY 2025, and other business.
Learn More🌊Proposed Amendments to Montana Surface Mining Regulations Announced
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Montana regulatory program (hereinafter, the Montana program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Montana submitted this proposed amendment to us, on its own initiative, following the passage of Montana Senate Bill 365 (SB 365) during the 2025 legislative session. Montana proposes changes to the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) generally related to siltation structures and a proposed exception in the Montana regulation for exceedance of capacity violations if the exceedance is the result of a series of small storms and the operator takes active measures to restore pond capacity as soon as conditions permit. This notice also allows for a public comment period and the possibility for a public hearing, if one is requested.
Learn More🏗️Proposed Changes to Montana Surface Mining Regulations Open for Comment
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Montana regulatory program (hereinafter, the Montana program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Montana submitted this proposed amendment to us, on its own initiative, following the passage of Montana Senate Bill 368 (SB 368) during the 2025 legislative session. Montana proposes several changes to the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) generally related to the proposed the addition of a process for operators to correct minor maintenance items. This notice also allows for a public comment period and the possibility for a public hearing, if one is requested.
Learn More⛏️Montana Surface Mining Program Amendment Proposal Overview
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Montana regulatory program (hereinafter, the Montana program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Montana submitted this proposed amendment to us, on its own initiative, following the passage of Montana House Bill 587 (HB 587) during the 2025 legislative session. Montana proposes several changes to the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), generally related to a new definition of "Material damage" with respect to the hydrologic balance, alluvial valley floors, and subsidence and the option for a permit applicant to provide self-collected information related to its determination of probable hydrologic consequences, if an appropriate Federal or State agency cannot provide such information. This notice also allows for a public comment period and the possibility for a public hearing, if one is requested.
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