Shaun McGrath

A vital water crossing certification for the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline is in limbo after environmental groups challenged Montana’s recent issuance of a water quality certification. The state’s decision and an appeal comes during a transition in state and federal administrations.

Environmental groups are calling for the state of Montana to reconsider a water quality certification that allows the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline to cross more than 200 protected water bodies in the eastern part of the state.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality gave the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline the go ahead to cross water bodies in eastern Montana before the agency could fully review over 650 public comments.

State environmental regulators Friday approved new standards for a heavy metal in Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River.

The Environmental Quality Council decided not to renew its April delay of the first statewide rules for disposing Technologically Enhanced Naturally…