(AP) — Montana's Supreme Court has rejected an attempt by the state's Republican governor to block a landmark climate ruling that said regulators must consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions when issuing permits for fossil fuel development.
Greg Gianforte and three state agencies to block the August ruling from District Court Judge Kathy Seeley while an appeal by the state is pending before the high court.
The state high court ruling means Montana officials must “immediately comply” with Seeley's order pending the appeal, said Mark Bellinger, an attorney for Our Children's Trust, which represented the 16 young plaintiffs who brought the case.
The Department of Environmental Quality has created a work group to discuss potential changes to how it uses the Montana Environmental Policy Act, which requires public input in fossil fuel and mining development.
Last year's amendment by lawmakers forbid greenhouse gas emission analyses unless the federal government decided to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant.
Persons:
HELENA, —, Greg Gianforte, Kathy Seeley, Seeley, Seeley “, “, Mark Bellinger, Chris Dorrington, “ We’re, ” Dorrington
Organizations:
Republican, Gov, Montana Department of Environmental, Energy, Montana Legislature, Republicans, Environmental
Locations:
Mont, Montana, Yellowstone, Laurel