Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Bureau records, 1973-1989
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Montana. Department of Environmental Quality. Air Quality Bureau
- Title
- Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Bureau records
- Dates
- 1973-1989 (inclusive)19731989
- Quantity
- 4 linear feet
- Collection Number
- RS 494 (Formerly RS 38)
- Summary
- This collection is a sub-subgroup (Bureau) of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality records. The Air Quality Bureau currently (as of 2024) operates within the Air, Energy, and Mining Division of DEQ. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Environmental Quality records. These records (1973-1989) of the Air Quality Bureau consist of hearing files, subject files, and miscellany.
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Collection open for research
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Montana State Board of Health was first established in 1901. In 1967, the Legislative Assembly created the Department of Health. The State Board of Health continued in an advisory capacity, but the day-to-day administration of the state laws regarding public health and related matters were relegated to the new department. The State Board of Health became the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences (DHES) in 1971 with the passage of Governor Anderson’s Executive Reorganization Order 9-71. The Montana Air Quality Bureau was established in 1971 within the Environmental Sciences Division. In 1991, though it remained a part of the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, the role of the Environmental Sciences Division was considerably expanded to include Natural Resource Damage Assessment, a Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board, a Superfund Section, and an Underground Storage Tanks Section.
During the 1970s, the Bureau helped establish Air Quality Maintenance Areas around the state; assisted the Flathead and Northern Cheyenne Indian reservations in establishing air quality standards; monitored the effects of the Mount Saint Helens eruption; and studied the impacts of coal developments. During 1980 and 1981, the Bureau conducted statewide public hearings on proposed air quality standards. In 1995, DHES split into the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), made up of the expanded Environmental Sciences Division, and the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
The Air Quality Bureau currently (as of 2024) operates within the Air, Energy, and Mining Division in DEQ.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Records include hearing files (1980-1981) of public testimony concerning proposed air quality standards. There are also subject files (1974-1978) on Air Quality Maintenance Areas in for the Berkeley Pit, Billings, Butte and Anaconda, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, and other towns statewide; and files concerning the Cabin Creek Coal Mine (Sage Creek Coal Project) (1975-1984), Colstrip (1973-1981), a Flathead River Basin study (1976-1989), Fort Union Coal (1976-1982), air pollution caused by the eruption of Mount Saint Helens (1980), the Poplar River Thermal Generating Project (1974-1988), and tribal assistance to the Flathead and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations. (1976-1982). Files are arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each subject area. (These records have not been completely processed.)
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by series.
Location of Collection
18:7-4Processing Note
In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 494, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.
Collections from Montana Department of Environmental Quality's various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 494. Rather than reprocessing over 150 linear feet of DEQ materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids, and provide access to them via links through the central finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup/sub-subgroup pertains to your research needs.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition information available upon request
Separated Materials
Photographs, slides, and motion pictures separated and transferred to Photo Archives.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Hearings Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 1 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: Anaconda Aluminum
Company |
1980 |
| 1 / 2-3 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: Anaconda Copper
Company |
1980 |
| 1 / 4 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: ASARCO Incorporated |
1980 |
| 1 / 5 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: Farmers Union Central
Exchange, Inc. (CENEX) |
1980 |
| 1 / 6 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: Champion International
Corporation |
1980 |
| 1 / 7 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: Conoco, Inc. |
1980 |
| 1 / 8 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: EXXON Company, U.S.A. |
1980 |
| 1 / 9 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: League of Women Voters
of Montana |
1980 |
| 1 / 10-11 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: Montana Department of
Health and Environmental Sciences |
1980 |
| 1 / 12 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: Montana Environmental
Information Center |
1980 |
| 1 / 13 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: Montana Power Company |
1980 |
| 1 / 14 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: Northern Plains
Resource Council |
1980 |
| 1 / 15 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: Stauffer Chemical
Company |
1980 |
| 1 / 16 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: University of Montana
Environmental Studies Lab |
1980 |
| 1 / 17 | Ambient Air Quality Standards: miscellaneous
testimony |
1980 |
Subject Files Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2 / 1 | Air Quality Maintenance Area files: Berkeley Pit |
1975 |
| 2 / 2-3 | Air Quality Maintenance Area files: Billings |
1974-1977 |
| 2 / 4 | Air Quality Maintenance Area files: Butte and
Anaconda |
1976-1977 |
| 2 / 5 | Air Quality Maintenance Area files: Coal Area
(Southeastern Montana, Colstrip) |
1975-1978 |
| 2 / 6 | Air Quality Maintenance Area files: Great Falls |
1975 |
| 2 / 7 | Air Quality Maintenance Area files: Helena |
undated |
| 2 / 8 | Air Quality Maintenance Area files: Kalispell |
1976 |
| 2 / 9 | Air Quality Maintenance Area files: Missoula |
1975-1978 |
| 2 / 10-11 | Air Quality Maintenance Area files: PEDCo
Environmental |
1975-1978 |
| 2 / 12-13 | Air Quality Maintenance Area files: Statewide |
1974-1976 |
| 2 / 14-15 | Cabin Creek Coal Mine Project (Sage Creek Coal
Project) |
1975-1984 |
| 2 / 16 | Colstrip: Land use permits for monitoring sites |
1973-1981 |
| 2 / 17 | Colstrip: University of Oklahoma |
1977 |
| 2 / 18-24 | Flathead River Basin Study: General file |
1976-1989 |
| 2 / 25-27 | Flathead River Basin Study: "Flathead River Basin
Environmental Impact Study, Air Quality Modeling Analysis", August 1983, submitted by
Bison Engineering/Research |
1983 |
| 2 / 28-29 | Fort Union Coal Team (Fort Union Coal Leasing
Project) |
1976-1982 |
| 2 / 30 | Gals Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) |
1968 |
| 3 / 1 | Mount St. Helens Volcanic Eruption |
1980 May |
| 3 / 2 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1974 |
| 3 / 3 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Generating Station Outline of Proposed Project and Environmental Studies", Sept.
1974, submitted by Saskatchewan Power Corporation |
1974 |
| 3 / 4 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Generating Station Environmental Studies: Study Outline for Environmental Effect
Assessments", Oct. 1974, submitted by Saskatchewan Power Corporation |
1974 |
| 3 / 5 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Brief
Submitted to Poplar River Project Board of Inquiry, Coronach, Saskatchewan", Nov.
1974, submitted by Saskatchewan Power Corporation |
1974 |
| 3 / 6 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1975 |
| 3 / 7 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Report of
the Board of Inquiry Into the Poplar River Power Project", Jan. 1975 |
1975 |
| 3 / 8 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project:
"Meteorological Aspects of Airborne Pollutant Dispersion from the Proposed Poplar
River Thermal Generating Station, Saskatchewan" Apr. 1975 (revised July 1975), by R.V.
Portelli |
1975 |
| 3 / 9-10 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1976 |
| 3 / 11 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: Three
Corners Boundary Association, Scobey, Montana |
1976 |
| 3 / 12 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1977 |
| 3 / 13 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Background
Air Quality Studies of the Poplar River Area of Northeastern Montana", 1977, by James
Gelhaus |
1977 |
| 3 / 14-15 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1978 |
| 3 / 16 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Report of
Recommendations of the Board of Inquiry: Poplar River No. 2 and Mipawin Electrical
Power Projects" |
1978 June |
| 3 / 17 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1979 |
| 3 / 18 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1980 |
| 3 / 19 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Draft
Environmental Impact Statement: Impact of Canadian Power Plant Development and Flow
Apportionment on the Poplar River Basin, Appendix", July 1980, By EPA and Tetra Tech
Inc. |
1980 |
| 3 / 20 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River: Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, Technical Monitoring Schedules" |
1980 September |
| 3 / 21 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Canadian
Data, Poplar River, 3rd Quarter, 1980, Air and Water" |
1980 |
| 3 / 22 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1981 |
| 3 / 23 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1981, First Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1981 July |
| 3 / 24 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1981, Third Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1981 December |
| 3 / 25 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1981, Fourth Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1982 March |
| 3 / 26 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Bilateral Monitoring Committee Report to Governments of Canada, United States,
Saskatchewan and Montana for Calendar Year 1981" |
1982 March |
| 3 / 27 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General File |
1982 |
| 3 / 28 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Bilateral Monitoring Committee Report to Governments of Canada, United States,
Saskatchewan, and Montana for Calendar Year 1982" |
1983 March |
| 4 / 1 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1983 |
| 4 / 2 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project:
"Intermountain Ambient's Proposal for the Operation of the Poplar River Air Monitoring
Network During Fiscal Year 1983", by InterMountain Ambient |
1983 |
| 4 / 3 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1983, First Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1983 June |
| 4 / 4 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1983, Second Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1983 September |
| 4 / 5 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1983, Third Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1984 January |
| 4 / 6 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1983, Fourth Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1984 March |
| 4 / 7 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Bilateral Monitoring Committee Report to Governments of Canada, United States,
Saskatchewan and Montana for Calendar Year 1983" |
1984 |
| 4 / 8 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1984 |
| 4 / 9 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1984, First Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1984 June |
| 4 / 10 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1984, Second Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1984 October |
| 4 / 11 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1984, Third Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1985 January |
| 4 / 12 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1984, Fourth Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1985 March |
| 4 / 13 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Bilateral Monitoring Committee Report to Governments of Canada, United States,
Saskatchewan, and Montana for Calendar Year 1984" |
1985 March |
| 4 / 14 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1985 |
| 4 / 15 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1985, First Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1985 June |
| 4 / 16 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1985, Second Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1985 October |
| 4 / 17 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1985, Third Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1986 January |
| 4 / 18 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1985, Fourth Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1986 March |
| 4 / 19 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "1985 Annual
Report to the Governments of Canada, United States, Saskatchewan and Montana by the
Poplar River bilateral Monitoring Committee, Covering Calendar Year 1985" |
1986 May |
| 4 / 20 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1986 |
| 4 / 21 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1986, First Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1986 June |
| 4 / 22 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1986, Second Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1986 |
| 4 / 23 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1986, Third Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1986 December |
| 4 / 24 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1986, Fourth Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1987 March |
| 4 / 25 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Bilateral Monitoring Committee Report to Governments of Canada, United States,
Saskatchewan, and Montana for Calendar Year 1986" |
1987 June |
| 4 / 26 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: General file |
1987 |
| 4 / 27 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1987, First Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1987 June |
| 4 / 28 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1987, Second Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1987 September |
| 4 / 29 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1987, Third Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1987 December |
| 4 / 30 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: "Poplar
River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 1987, Fourth Quarter Data Exchange, Canadian
Contribution" |
1988 March |
| 4 / 31 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: Requests for
Proposals |
1984-1985 |
| 4 / 32 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: Econ, Inc.,
"Proposal to Operate Poplar River Air Monitoring Project, July 1, 1984 through June
30, 1985" |
undated |
| 4 / 33 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: Geo
Research, Inc. "Statement of Qualifications: Air Quality and Meteorology" |
circa 1983 |
| 4 / 34 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: Geo
Research, Inc., "Proposal: Operation of the Poplar River Air Monitoring Network for
Fiscal Year 1984 and/or 1985" |
1983 May |
| 4 / 35 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: Geo
Research, Inc., "Proposal: Poplar River Air Quality Monitoring Network, Fiscal Year
1985" |
1984 April |
| 4 / 36 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project:
Intermountain Ambient, "Intermountain Ambient's Proposal for the Operation of the
Poplar River Air Monitoring Network for Fiscal Year 1984 and/or 1985" |
undated |
| 4 / 37 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project:
Intermountain Ambient, "Intermountain Ambient's Submittal of Qualifications and
Notification of Interest In the Operation of the Poplar River Air Monitoring Network
for Fiscal Year 1985" |
undated |
| 4 / 38 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project:
Intermountain Ambient, "Intermountain Ambient's Proposal for the Operation of the
Poplar River Air Monitoring Network for Fiscal Year 1985" |
undated |
| 4 / 39 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project:
Inter-Mountain Laboratories, Inc., memo re "Notice of Interest and Qualifications for
Operation of the Poplar River Air Monitoring Network for FY 1985" |
1984 April |
| 4 / 40 | Poplar River Thermal Generating Project: Northern
Engineering and Testing, Inc., memo re "Statement of Qualifications, Poplar River Air
Monitoring" |
1984 April |
| 4 / 41 | Tribal Assistance Flathead Reservation: Request for
Proposal and Contract with GeoResearch Inc. |
1981-1982 |
| 4 / 42 | Tribal Assistance Northern Cheyenne Reservation:
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Redesignation |
1976-1981 |
Miscellany Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 43 | Script of slide presentation |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Air pollution --Government policy--Montana.
- Air pollution --Montana
- Air quality management--Montana
- Coal mines and mining--Environmental aspects--Montana.
- Steam power plants--Montana
- Volcanoes-- Washington (State)
Geographical Names
- Flathead Indian Reservation (Mont.)
- Northern Cheyenne Indians Reservation (Mont.)
- Saint Helens, Mount (Wash.)--Eruption, 1980
Finding aid prepared by Connie Geiger, 1996; Updated by
Lindsey Mick
2006;
2024
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
