CONCERNED CITIZENS MONTANA
Concerned Citizens Montana seeks to maintain Montana’s unique and important lifestyle by empowering local governments and the citizens they serve to have a voice in the decision making process. The organization serves as a clearinghouse for public information, and unites citizen efforts and resources to ensure that corporations, state and federal agencies, and elected officials are representing sound energy policies that are in the best interest of Montanans. CCM currently has approximately 3,000 supporters representing diverse issues, including ranching, small business, tourism, education, historical and cultural resources, government, recreation, real estate, public health and safety, and energy rates.
JOIN CCM IN OUR WORK TO EDUCATE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN STATES TRANSMISSION INTERTIE AND MONTANA'S ENERGY FUTURE. YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION OF $10 OR MORE WILL ENABLE CCM TO CONTINUE OUR WORK FOR YOU. DONATE TO CONCERNED CITIZENS MONTANA TODAY!
BRIEFS NOW FILED FOR LANDOWNERS IN MATL CONDEMNATION SUITS (Download of Briefs Available Below)
- Landowners Responses to MATL's Motion for Preliminary Condemnation Order
- Landowners Responses to MATL's Motion for PSJ on Public Use
- Landowners Responses to MATL's 3d Motion for PSJ
-Landowners Responses to MATL's Motion for PSJ on Necessity & Location
A Panel Discussion on Eminent Domain in Montana took place at the UM (Missoula) Law School on 3/14. Video from this panel will be posted here soon. Participants in the panel were:
Stephen Brown, Moderator
Panelists: Mark Stermitz (lawyer, Crowley and Fleck), Kelly Flynn – Legislator, (R ), Townsend, Debra Hanneman – CCM
The Chalmers Report on Property Values and Transmission Lines, Funded by Northwestern Energy, is posted below:
High Voltage Transmission Lines and Montana Real Estate Values
High-Voltage Transmission Lines and Rural, Western Real Estate Values
PowerPoint presentation on HVTL and Montana Real Estate Values
WESTERN AG REPORTER'S INTERVIEW SERIES ON "FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT"
Western Ag Reporter is publishing a series of interviews with Montana citizens involved in the Mountain States Transmission Intertie project. Interviews are posted on our "Current Media" web page.
NEW WEB PAGE....CCM ASKS QUESTIONS ABOUT EMINENT DOMAIN, MONTANA ENERGY POLICY, AND MERCHANT TRANSMISSION LINES.
Read the questions and link to background information at: CCM Questions.
HB 198 Lawsuit on Eminent Domain
The lawsuit that contends that House Bill 198 is unconstitutional as a violation of due process was heard at the Park County Courthouse on December 22, 2011. In early January, 2012, Judge Swandal of Montana's 6th District Court, rule against the landowners. A summary of his ruling is posted here - District Court Findings of Fact, HB 198. The MATL landowners have now filed a motion for reconsideration of the decision. The brief will be posted here when it's made available to the public. The amicus brief originally submitted by CCM is still posted here - CCM Amicus brief for HB 198 Lawsuit. Other briefs for the lawsuit are posted on the EMINENT DOMAIN LAWSUIT INFO page.
1. Landowners' Motion for Summary Judgment
2. Landowners' Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
Concerned Citizens Montana opposes MSTI (Mountain States Transmission Intertie) as proposed. The MSTI powerline is bad business, bad energy policy, bad for of southwestern Montana residents, and bad for the “Last Best Place.”
Though CCM supports renewable energy, we do not believe MSTI to be a “green” line. The proposal for MSTI is grossly overbuilt for Montana’s current and projected wind power output. The line would carry coal energy from Colstrip, Montana, and there is nothing green or energy efficient about exporting energy thousands of miles.
We also believe that MSTI is bad business. It is an ill-conceived plan to carry energy thousands of miles to markets who don’t need or want it.
From public health to ranching, real estate and recreation, MSTI is a threat to Montanans' livelihood, landscape and environment.
Contact CCM: Concerned Citizens Montana
concernedcitizensmontana@gmail.com
P.O. Box 453
Dillon, Montana 59725
Considering Environmental Information in Transmission Plans - Published by the 2011 EEI/NRECA Utility Siting Workshop
Eminent Domain in Montana - Published by Montana Legislative Environmental Policy Office, 2001.
Landowner Corridors for Wind Development: Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.
DOE Office of Inspector General - Management Alert: WAPA's Control and Administration of ARRA Borrowing Authority.
Dr. Larry Swanson's slide show for the Montana Energy Conference.
HERTHA LUND'S TALKING POINTS ON HB 198.
Montana Environmental Quality Discussion on Eminent Domain, 1/11/2012:
A part of the 1/11-12/2012 Environmental Quality Council's meeting was devoted to a discussion on aspects of eminent domain. Background materials prepared for the meeting are well worth reading:
HB 198 Litigation Update (done prior to landowners filing for a reconsideration of Judge Swandal's ruling)
An invited speaker, Georgetown Law professor, Scott Hemple, discussed eminent domain and public utilities. His presentation is posted here:
•CCM monthly meeting - 4/5: Montana Tech Student Union, Pintlar Room, 6 pm - 8 pm.
•Jefferson County Commisssioners' meeting - 3/13: Jefferson County Courthouse; 1:30 pm: MSTI is always a part of the agenda for commission meetings.
Concerned Citizens Montana has retained legal counsel of two prominent attorneys, Karen Budd-Falen and Peter Scott, to protect rural traditions, natural and historic lands, property rights, and ensure local participation rights are enforced in Beaverhead, Broadwater, Jefferson, Madison, and Silver Bow counties. Karen Budd-Falen (Budd-Falen Law Offices, L.L.C., Cheyenne, WY) is nationally recognized for her expertise and successful litigation record defending private property rights and issues pertaining to the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other environmental statutes. Already well-known to local concerned citizens, Peter Scott (Gough, Shanahan, Johnson & Waterman, PLLP) has served with County Attorney Matt Johnson on Jefferson County’s legal team in ongoing litigation in Montana state court.