Panel drops plan to hire consultant on EPA rules

HELENA (AP) — Montana utility regulators dropped a proposal Tuesday to spend $3,000 to hire a former University of Montana law professor known for his conservative views to point out any constitutional problems with proposed federal regulations to reduce carbon dioxide pollution from power plants.

Public Service Commission member Roger Koopman said he believes the proposed Environmental Protection Agency regulations are an overreach of federal power, but he doesn't specifically know how.

Robert Natelson, who specializes in constitutional law at a Colorado-based think tank, would help educate commissioners as the commission considers responding to the EPA plan, Koopman said.

"Ultimately, we are not required as public servants and as commissioners to enforce unconstitutional law. I feel that very strongly, and I think that's the kind of thing that will be an interesting question for Professor Natelson to address," Koopman said.