In a May 10 letter to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the EPA asserted that a measure the Montana Legislature passed in 2021 runs afoul of the Clean Water Act. The EPA said it’s concerned that the state’s repeal of numeric standards for nitrogen and phosphorus codified in Senate Bill 358 has led to degraded water bodies and lacks a grounding in science. The letter effectively puts numeric standards back in play for the DEQ’s permitting process.
Author Archives: Amanda Eggert
Amanda Eggert studied print journalism at the University of Montana. Prior to becoming a full-time journalist, Amanda spent four years working with the Forest Service as a wildland firefighter. After leaving the Forest Service in 2014, Amanda worked for Outside magazine as an editorial fellow before joining Outlaw Partners’ staff to lead coverage for Explore Big Sky newspaper and contribute writing and editing to Explore Yellowstone and Mountain Outlaw magazines. Prior to joining Montana Free Press’ staff in 2021 Amanda was a freelance writer, researcher and interviewer. In addition to writing for outlets like Outside Online, Montana Quarterly, Mountains & Minds, Edible Bozeman and others, Amanda did contract communications work for Pursuit Cycles, Montana Outfitters and Guides Association and Davis & Associates.
For Davis & Associates, Amanda produced a 66-page report about behavioral health challenges and opportunities in Big Sky. Her husband runs Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, a Bozeman-based conservation nonprofit. Amanda does not report on the lawsuits Cottonwood is working on, although there is some overlap in her husband’s interests as an environmental attorney and the issues Amanda covers as a journalist.
