Thursday, December 08, 2011

SUPREME COURT - Who Owns Montana's Rivers?

"Supreme Court Hears Dispute Over Ownership of Montana's Rivers" PBS Newshour 12/7/2011

Excerpt

GWEN IFILL (Newshour): Montana's rivers are pristine and iconic, but they are also at the center of a property rights dispute that went all the way to the Supreme Court today.

A lower court ruled that the power company PPL Montana owes the state $53 million in back payments, essentially rent for its use of riverbeds for hydroelectric plants and dams. But who owns the riverbeds, the state, the federal government or private owners?

The answer to that question could have broad impact throughout the American West, as well as the rest of the country.

Marcia Coyle was in the courtroom for today's arguments, and she joins us now.



COMMENT: Whatever decision the court makes has the potential having a large impact. What I like is WHO is making the argument in court, big hitters from the Bush era on both sides.

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