MTLrs38.xml Guide to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Bureau Records 1973-1989 Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Bureau Records Finding aid prepared by Connie Geiger, 1996; Updated by Lindsey Mick Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Montana Historical Society 2006; 2024 Finding aid encoded by Ellie Arguimbau with assistance by Cuadra Associates; Updated by Lindsey Mick 2006; 2024 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition) Montana Historical Society Library & Archives RS 38_RS 494 Montana. Department of Environmental Quality. Air Quality Bureau Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Bureau records 1973-1989 4 linear feet 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. 18:7-4 English

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.

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.)

The collection is arranged by series.

Collection open for research

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.

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.

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.

Acquisition information available upon request

Photographs, slides, and motion pictures separated and transferred to Photo Archives.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.

Air pollution --Montana Air pollution --Government policy--Montana. Air quality management--Montana Coal mines and mining--Environmental aspects--Montana. Steam power plants--Montana Volcanoes-- Washington (State) Flathead Indian Reservation (Mont.) Northern Cheyenne Indians Reservation (Mont.) Saint Helens, Mount (Wash.)--Eruption, 1980 Montana Environmental Conditions Detailed Description of the Collection Hearings 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 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 4 / 43 Script of slide presentation undated