UM Students Publish Website Exploring Issues Surrounding Proposed Sale Of Missoula Water Utility

The University of Montana law and journalism schools have rolled out a website focused on providing information and analysis related to the proposed sale of Missoula’s Mountain Water Company to a multinational commodities broker.

The new site is titled "Global Control of Local Water: The Carlyle Group in Missoula, Montana" and can be found online at http://etalnews.org/missoulawater/. The project seeks to "create an objective resource of information for the community regarding this important natural resource question: Who should own municipal water?"

The site currently covers the key players, timeline, news and resources. More aspects of the case will be included as negotiations unfold. Starting immediately, students will begin to address the legal issues before Montana’s Public Service Commission. Issues identified so far include: Missoula’s history of litigation with Mountain Water; the PSC’s authority to demand certain documents from the Carlyle Group; and whether the Clark Fork Coalition may file as an intervenor.

The PSC will hold a hearing at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at the Missoula Public Library to take public comment on the proposed sale.

For more information on the website, call Ada Montague, UM law student, at 406-599-1067 or email [email protected]; call journalism Assistant Professor Nadia White at 406-243-6720 or email [email protected]; call law Assistant Professor Michelle Bryan Mudd at 406-243-6753 or email [email protected].

http://news.umt.edu/2011/09/091911watr.aspx