July 15, 2017 - Montana began regulating strip mining in 1971 when the Legislature adopted the Montana Open Cut and Strip Mine Reclamation Act. It said that all lands disturbed by the taking of natural resources shall be reclaimed and the Legislature shall provide procedures and standards for the reclamation. Today, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality works with coal mining companies in Montana to allow for human activity without compromising the environment. 

“DEQ and the mines work together to bring a problem-solving mentality to the process,” said DEQ Director Tom Livers. “The goal is to take what we have today, and figure out how we can make it better tomorrow.” 

We invite you to watch this video on coal mine reclamation in Montana: https://youtu.be/BnANYiSLgWU.