Environment

Missoula’s Zero by Fifty efforts to reduce waste limited by funding

By Rachel NealNovember 26, 2021

November 26, 2021 By Missoula Current

Three years since Missoula adopted its plan to reach zero waste by 2050, officials say the city lacks funding to address many of its goals but has seen some progress. The 2018 Zero by Fifty plan laid out three immediate actions: create a budget and financing strategy, establish a dedicated zero-waste staff position, and conduct a study to assess the city’s waste composition. … [Read more...] about Missoula’s Zero by Fifty efforts to reduce waste limited by funding

Grant inches Montana Great Outdoors Project toward $10 million goal

By Laura LundquistNovember 24, 2021

November 24, 2021 By Missoula Current

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced this week that a western Montana land conservation effort was one of seven projects in seven states selected to receive a Walmart Acres for America grant. Projects were selected based on their ability to permanently protect wildlife habitat of national significance and to benefit local communities and local economies. The … [Read more...] about Grant inches Montana Great Outdoors Project toward $10 million goal

Missoula County backs state plan to assess pollutants at Smurfit site

By Martin KidstonNovember 24, 2021

November 24, 2021 By Missoula Current

Missoula County is placing its support behind a proposed plan by the state's Natural Resources Damage Program that would fully characterize the environmental impacts of pollutants seeping from the shuttered Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. mill site in Frenchtown. The proposed Assessment Plan, released last month, suggests that past studies of the industrial site have relied … [Read more...] about Missoula County backs state plan to assess pollutants at Smurfit site

Missoula County secures NewFields in push to win EPA Brownfields grant

By Martin KidstonNovember 23, 2021

November 23, 2021 By Missoula Current

With a hope of landing a large federal grant to evaluate and clean former industrial land for potential redevelopment, Missoula County on Tuesday agreed to secure a professional firm to prepare the application. Commissioners approved an agreement with NewFields for $6,000, hoping its professional grant-writing skills will make the county more competitive as it seeks a … [Read more...] about Missoula County secures NewFields in push to win EPA Brownfields grant

Vital Ground Foundation buys small but special Swan Valley parcel for habitat

By Laura LundquistNovember 22, 2021

November 22, 2021 By Missoula Current

A precious plot of the Swan River Valley will remain undeveloped, thanks to a bear–focused nonprofit group. In a hot property market when more wild places are being turned into building lots, more of Montana’s wildlife is being pushed onto smaller chunks of isolated public land. In regions like the Swan River Valley, it used to be that people were fewer and farther between, … [Read more...] about Vital Ground Foundation buys small but special Swan Valley parcel for habitat