U.S. sustainability leaders visit Hi-Line

U. S. sustainability leaders visit Hi-Line

Zach White

Federal leaders met with local leaders on Saturday morning to discuss sustainable communities, and how Havre and the Hi-Line is or can become one.

Mariia Zimmerman, deputy director of the Office of Sustainable Housing & Communities for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Tim Torma, deputy director of the Office of Sustainable Communities in the Environmental Protection Agency, met with leaders from local organizations such as Opportunity Link Inc., North Central Montana Transit and Bear Paw Development Corp., and tribal leaders from Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian reservations.

The initial hour-and-a-half talk took place in the NCMT bus barn before the federal leaders were led on a tour of local sustainability hot spots around Havre, including Montana State University-Northern's biodiesel facilities.

Jim Lyons, the transit system's director of transportation, said he thought the biodiesel activity in Havre was of particular interest to the group.

"When they see the production of the fuel, along with the fact that our buses are biodiesel, and the railroads, that speaks to the effectiveness of the product, " Lyons said. "I think it was rather eye-opening for them. "

During the meeting, both of the visitors wanted to make it clear that the current administration, and its Partnership for Sustainable Communities that brings HUD, EPA and Department of Transportation officials together, are eager to hear from and work with rural communities.

"We want to hear from you, learn from you and hear about what challenges you face in Montana, in rural communities and in a tribal context, " Torma said.

He added that his agency does not want to make anyone's life more difficult with more regulations, but to help the communities.

"Economic sustainability is just as important as environmental sustainability, " Torma said. "Our goal is not to increase rules and restrictions on communities. I hope we're not adding a layer of burden, but taking some away. "

Zimmerman said that they, in Washington, wanted to hear about issues the community may face in dealing with their departments.

"Our secretaries are very committed that the programs need to reach rural communities, " Zimmerman said. "We want to know about these problems. "

She said that this communication is necessary for the departments to understand local, rural problems and how they can help the communities get the help they need.

"At HUD, urban is our middle name, but we recognize that there are unique challenges for rural communities. "

Federal leaders met with local leaders on Saturday morning to discuss sustainable communities, and how Havre and the Hi-Line is or can become one.

Mariia Zimmerman, deputy director of the Office of Sustainable Housing & Communities for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Tim Torma, deputy director of the Office of Sustainable Communities in the Environmental Protection Agency, met with leaders from local organizations such as Opportunity Link Inc., North Central Montana Transit and Bear Paw Development Corp., and tribal leaders from Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian reservations.

The initial hour-and-a-half talk took place in the NCMT bus barn before the federal leaders were led on a tour of local sustainability hot spots around Havre, including Montana State University-Northern's biodiesel facilities.

Jim Lyons, the transit system's director of transportation, said he thought the biodiesel activity in Havre was of particular interest to the group.

"When they see the production of the fuel, along with the fact that our buses are biodiesel, and the railroads, that speaks to the effectiveness of the product, " Lyons said. "I think it was rather eye-opening for them. "

During the meeting, both of the visitors wanted to make it clear that the current administration, and its Partnership for Sustainable Communities that brings HUD, EPA and Department of Transportation officials together, are eager to hear from and work with rural communities.

"We want to hear from you, learn from you and hear about what challenges you face in Montana, in rural communities and in a tribal context, " Torma said.

He added that his agency does not want to make anyone's life more difficult with more regulations, but to help the communities.

"Economic sustainability is just as important as environmental sustainability, " Torma said. "Our goal is not to increase rules and restrictions on communities. I hope we're not adding a layer of burden, but taking some away. "

Zimmerman said that they, in Washington, wanted to hear about issues the community may face in dealing with their departments.

"Our secretaries are very committed that the programs need to reach rural communities, " Zimmerman said. "We want to know about these problems. "

She said that this communication is necessary for the departments to understand local, rural problems and how they can help the communities get the help they need.

"At HUD, urban is our middle name, but we recognize that there are unique challenges for rural communities. "