PEER in Montana

PEER's environmental work is solely directed by the needs of its members. As a consequence, we have the distinct honor of serving resource professionals who daily cast profiles in courage in cubicles across the country.

Find out about Montana’s whistleblower law

Following are PEER news releases, white papers, surveys and other activities for Montana:


News Releases for Montana
April 29, 2009  EPA RELEASES LIBBY CLEAN-UP REPORT — PEER Lawsuit Prompts Belated Disclosure of Major Unresolved Public Health Issues
April 21, 2009  SECRET EPA REPORT ON LIBBY CLEAN-UP SPARKS LAWSUIT — Early Test of Obama/Holder Doctrine on Freedom of Information Act Openness
December 8, 2008   LAWSUIT TO BLOCK TRIBAL TAKEOVER OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE — Bison Range Deal Cedes “Inherently Federal” Functions and Bars Public Oversight
September 17, 2008  TRIBAL WILDLIFE REFUGE TAKEOVER DEEPLY FLAWED — National Bison Range Deal Sets Precedent for 75 Other National Parks and Refuges
August 19, 2008  PARK SERVICE WAVES WHITE FLAG ON LITTLE BIGHORN VISITOR CENTER — Lawsuit Halted Plan to Build a Theater at Base of “Last Stand Hill”
May 19, 2008  NEW BATTLE AT THE LITTLE BIGHORN — Planned “Temporary” Visitor Center in Center of Battlefield Draws Historians’ Ire
April 7, 2008  YELLOWSTONE FEEDING BISON MULTIPLIES NEXT YEAR’S PROBLEM — Park Baiting Buffalo to Corrals Violates Its Own “Do Not Feed Wildlife” Policy
December 7, 2007  INTERIOR ISSUES NEW MARCHING ORDERS FOR BISON RANGE DEAL — Funding Agreement with Tribe by Next March but Big Questions Remain
December 5, 2007  INTERIOR DIRECTS BISON RANGE TO BE HANDED OVER TO TRIBE — Inspector General Report Describes High-Level Political Machinations
November 13, 2007  FATE OF NATIONAL BISON RANGE HAS BECOME A POLITICAL FOOTBALL — House Leaders Pushing in Opposite Directions on Transferring Refuge to Tribes
October 23, 2007  YELLOWSTONE SCRAMBLING TO STOP CELL TOWER AT PARK GATEWAY — 115-Foot Tower Would Dominate Historic Area and Tourist Attractions
May 17, 2007  TRIBES REJECT FIVE-YEAR BISON RANGE PARTNERSHIP — CSKT Renews Push for Takeover of Refuge Management and More Jobs
January 18, 2007  INTERIOR DEPARTMENT LEAVES BISON RANGE EMPLOYEES IN DARK — Grievance Appeal Filed; New Threats Against Employees
January 9, 2007  ABUSES AT NATIONAL BISON RANGE CONFIRMED BY INVESTIGATION — Threats, Intimidation and Safety Concerns Documented in Independent Report
December 14, 2006  FWS TERMINATES CONTROVERSIAL BISON RANGE AGREEMENT — Agency Rebuffs Efforts by Tribe to Assume Management of Entire Refuge in FY 2007
November 15, 2006  TRIBE SEEKING TOTAL TAKEOVER OF NATIONAL BISON RANGE — Fish & Wildlife Service May Also Cede Two More Refuges and Five Waterfowl Areas
October 26, 2006   NATIONAL BISON RANGE EVALUATION CENSORED BY AGENCY — Warnings about Communications Breakdowns and Worsening Relations Were Stifled
October 12, 2006  STAFF REBEL AGAINST HARASSMENT ON BISON RANGE REFUGE — Joint Complaint of Tribe Trying to Drive Off Staff in Order to Take Over Their Jobs
August 8, 2006  PLANS FOR MORE YELLOWSTONE CELL TOWERS INCH FORWARD — “Visitor Expectations” Cited as Basis for Electronically Blanketing the Park
July 20, 2006  TROUBLED FIRST YEAR FOR BISON RANGE REFUGE TRIBAL OPERATION — Agreement Renewal in Limbo as Tribe Demands More Funds and Jobs
August 18, 2005  EPA WALKING AWAY FROM NATION’S LARGEST SUPERFUND SITE — Deal With BP/ARCO Will Leave Butte Contaminated for Centuries
February 8, 2005  BISON RANGE EMPLOYEES GIVEN REMOVAL NOTICES — Action Against Refuge Workers While Congressional Review Pending
December 14, 2004  BISON RANGE DEAL TO BE SIGNED DESPITE OBJECTIONS — Lingering Questions on Terms, Costs and Consequences
December 2, 2004  CHANGES IN BISON RANGE DEAL; SIGNING DELAYED — FWS Retirees Protest That Concerns Still Not Addressed
October 18, 2004  REFUGE MANAGERS PROTEST BISON RANGE DEAL AS UNWORKABLE — Joint Letter By 23 Managers Cites Money, Manpower and Performance Problems
October 13, 2004  INTERIOR REFUSES TO HOLD HEARINGS ON BISON RANGE DEAL — Repudiates Its Own Cost Estimates on Day That Public Comment Period Closes
October 6, 2004  INTERIOR WITHHOLDING COST FIGURES ON BISON RANGE DEAL — Congressman Calls for Public Hearings
April 0, 2002  SETTLEMENT REACHED IN SEWAGE TREATMENT SUIT — City to Pay $100,000, Upgrade Plant and Increase Monitoring
August 16, 2001  FISH & WILDLIFE OK'S HUNTING SEASON FOR RARE TRUMPETER SWAN FWS — Scientists Cry
July 9, 2001  ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP SUES CITY OVER TREATMENT PLANT — City Still Unwilling To Clean Up Plant
March 1, 2001  ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP TO SUE CITY OVER TREATMENT PLANT — Lawsuit called the 'last resort' in health crisis
February 13, 2001  SEWAGE PIPE BURST DUE TO NEGLIGENCE — City Accused of Glossing Over Smelly Incident
October 5, 2000  WASTEWATER PLANT EMPLOYEES DOCUMENT MALFEASANCE — Negligent Managers Blamed for Health Risks, Toxic Spills, Coverup
February 29, 2000  MONTANA'S ENVIRONMENT WORSE OFF, SAY DEQ EMPLOYEES — Survey Faults Management & Political Interference
White Papers for Montana
Fouling Our Nest — Gross Negligence at the Missoula Wastewater Treatment Plant (September 2000)
Missoula's Waste Water Treatment Plant is plagued by spills, bypasses and potential "backflows" which pollute the Clark Fork River, contaminate the groundwater aquifer and threaten the safety of the plant's own drinking water supply. In addition, due to equipment breakdowns, the plant is emitting hazardous methane gas and has suffered mercury spills. This report details not only the chronic problems at the Missoula Waste Water Treatment Plant, but also the fact that the problems have been masked by upper management negligence and a system of cover-ups. more >>
Surveys for Montana
2000  Montana Department of Environmental Quality Survey

PEER does not have a Montana chapter, but if you would like to start one, let us know.

As a service organization, PEER relies on current or former agency employees to point out issues to work on. If you work for a resource management agency, and you struggle with:

  • political interference with science-based decisions,
  • undue influence of industry into permitting decisions,
  • a management hostile to the conservation views of staff,
  • censorship of job-related opinions, or
    • anti-government threats from your community

PEER can help!
Our job is to deliver the problem to your agency decision-makers and the public while protecting the anonymitiy of the messanger. This may be as simple as a letter from PEER to your supervisor that says, "we're watching," or as complex as a legal challenge to your administration. To see examples of common tactics we've used in other states, check out our agency surveys, white papers and news releases.

As with all of our work, every project is employee directed. That means you call the shots.

For more information, contact PEER at info@peer.org or (202) 265-7337.