Laura Lundquist

(Missoula Current) After the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved Montana’s reduced water quality standards earlier this month, nine environmental groups are pushing DEQ for a plan before the state issues more pollution discharge permits.

On Wednesday, the Upper Missouri Waterkeeper launched an online petition asking the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to put a hold on any applications for wastewater discharge permits until the department develops a science-based plan to assess nutrient pollution. The goal is to have 1,000 petitioners sign on.

“Right now, DEQ is flying blind without a plan in place to determine - and prevent - harmful levels of nutrient pollution for most Montana waterways. This hands-off approach to regulating point-source pollu

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