2024-05-14T18:37:08-07:00 2023-12-31 990 2023-01-01 810367205 NORTHERN PLAINS RESOURCE COUNCIL NORT 4062481154 220 S 27th St STE A Billings MT 59101 Margaret Gordon Executive Director 4062481154 2024-05-15 Margaret Gordon 999009999 1 1 11 0 AAL2 X 2023 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z Margaret Gordon 220 S 27th St STE A Billings MT 59101 3284633 0 9511 X www.northernplains.org X 1972 MT Northern Plains Resource Council organizes Montanans to protect our water, land, air, and working landscapes; support a healthy, localized, and sustainable economy; and build strong grassroots leaders, always considering the next generation. 32 32 24 126 0 0 1462714 2854915 227571 212350 43083 75496 33275 39720 1766643 3182481 0 0 0 0 1180445 1280322 0 0 143258 498142 511826 1678587 1792148 88056 1390333 4600304 6106250 104891 112286 4495413 5993964 Northern Plains believes people working together can make a difference. Our mission is to organize Montanans to protect our water, land, air, and working landscapes; support a healthy, localized, and sustainable economy in farm and ranch country and in our towns; and build strong grassroots leaders, always considering the next generation. 0 0 339864 0 0 Clean Energy: We elevated the voices of Montanans impacted by Montana-Dakota Utilities' proposed 19.2% increase and reduced the final increase to 9.1% which saved Eastern Montanans over $4.5M. We worked with the Montana Facilities Finance Authority to bring the total number of counties adopting CPACE to 12 and helped another five counties start the process. In conjunction with our affiliates, our Solarize campaigns have helped 300 residences in Montana through solar assessments which resulted in over 120 installations and increased the total solar installed through our efforts to over 700kw. We recruited, trained, and supported two candidates for rural electric co-op boards. Our work kept one co-op from effectively ending net metering and helped another raise its cap on installation size and adopt a more consumer-friendly true-up policy. Finally, we coordinated powerful member testimony at climate policy listening sessions hosted by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and stood up for DEQ's authority to reject permits that infringe upon our constitutionally-protected right to a clean and healthful environment. 230936 0 0 Oil & Gas: We amplified the voices of concerned Laurel community members to combat NorthWestern Energy's methane-fired power plant on the banks of the Yellowstone River. We generated an outpouring of letters to the editor in opposition to the zoning changes required for the plant to become operational and we flooded the Montana DEQ with hundreds of comments about the plant's dangerous pollution during the public comment period. We conducted a canvass in Laurel to provide information about the proposed plant and learn more about community concerns and attitudes toward the plan, then organized people to push the Laurel City/County Planning Board to reject efforts to rezone the land where the plant was built. We also continued our efforts to stop air pollution from orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells in Montana. We helped the state secure $25M in federal funding to plug identified orphaned wells across the state, roughly half of which were completed in 2023 and the rest should be complete by fall of 2024. We oversaw the finalization of the EPA's Methane Rule which aimed to cut 80% of methane emissions from oil and gas development over the next 15 years. 209670 0 0 Coal Transition: We petitioned the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement to investigate Signal Peak Energy's ongoing violations, finances, and legality of cancelling long-held grazing leases near the longwall mine they operate in the Bull Mountains. We filed a formal complaint against Signal Peak with the Montana DEQ requesting investigation into the company's ongoing violations and, following inaction, we requested the DEQ revoke Signal Peak Energy's mining permit. We expanded our membership base in the Bull Mountains and developed a strategy to ensure area ranchers and communities are well-informed and can plan around the mine's activities, trajectory, and timeframe. 699048 0 0 Agriculture: We organized ranches and key stakeholders to support rulemaking related to the Packers and Stockyards Act and the American Beef Labeling Act, requiring country-of-origin labeling (COOL) at the federal level. We expanded the audience of those who care about agricultural issues and united ranchers, consumers, and conservationists around livestock and COOL reform. We hosted the 8th annual Montana Local Food Challenge in August, including an event in Glendive with our affiliate group, Dawson Resource Council. Healthy Soils: We passed a joint resolution during the 2023 legislative session establishing a Montana Soil Health Week and Day. The inaugural Soil Health Week will take place the first week of April 2024. We hosted two Soil Crawl events and one virtual gathering that covered soil health tools and principles such as rotational grazing, soil tests and amendments, invasive species management, cover crops, and more. Good Neighbor Agreement: We pushed back on mine expansion activities, ensuring traffic safety and minimizing the mine's footprint wherever possible in the Stillwater and Boulder valleys. As a result of GNA member involvement and technical advisor input, the Stillwater mine has implemented state-of-the-art, satellite-linked survey equipment to measure ground movement and groundwater pore pressure changes for the Stillwater mine tailing and storage facilities. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Northern Plains worked closely with Western Native Voice and several other organizations to organize a showing of Murder in the Bighorn, a docuseries from Showtime about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis. Roughly 300 people attended the screening and the discussion panel featuring Blackfeet Nation filmmakers Ivy and Ivan MacDonald and family members of the victims. We supported and collaborated with Western Native Voice as they lead Indigenous Peoples Day activities and celebrations. We continued our Lessons from Indigenous Organizing series with Native American speakers who are doing powerful organizing work across the state. Protecting Montana's Constitution: We mobilized thousands of Montanans on the Montana Constitution as several proposals came up at the Montana legislature. While there were 69 proposed amendments to the constitution, ZERO passed. We organized a rally, "We the People: A Rally for the Montana Constitution" that brought together Montanans from all walks of life to tell the state legislature that our constitution should stand to protect our rights as currently written. 699048 0 0 1479518 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 1 24 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 X 32 32 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 X X Margaret Gordon 4062481154 220 S 27th St STE A Billings MT 59101 X Margaret Gordon Executive Director 50 0 X 84115 0 0 Jeanie Alderson At-Large Representative 3 0 X 0 0 0 Kristin Aus Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Steve Charter Affiliate Representative 3 0 X 0 0 0 Jeff Dibenedetto Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Charlie French Affiliate Representative 2 0 X 0 0 0 Kristine Glenn Affiliate Representative 3 0 X 0 0 0 Barbara Gulick Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Scott Hancock Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Linda Iverson Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 George Kelly Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Ita Kileen At Large 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jasmine Krotkov Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Clint McRae Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Peter Mickelsen Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jane Moses Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Kirk Panasuk At Large Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 June Peterson Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Ellen Pfister Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Rae Peppers At-Large 1 0 X 0 0 0 Ken Siroky Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 John Smith Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Barbara Ulrich O'Grady Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Nathan Varley Affiliate Representative 2 0 X 0 0 0 Eleanor Wend Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Gordon Whirry Affiliate Representative 1 0 X 0 0 0 Edward Barta Chair of the Board 3 0 X 0 0 0 Norane Freistadt Vice Chair 2 0 X 0 0 0 John Brown Secretary 3 0 X 0 0 0 Sue Beug Treasurer 1 0 X 0 0 0 Roxa Reller Assistant Secretary 1 0 X 0 0 0 Craig McClure Assistant Treasurer 2 0 X 0 0 0 Joan Kresich Past Chair 20 0 X 0 0 0 84115 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 354181 11258 0 0 2489476 28837 2854915 Consulting 541990 7750 7750 0 0 Building Share 900099 40360 40360 0 0 Reimbursements 900099 164240 164240 0 0 0 0 0 0 212350 79253 79253 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1875 0 0 0 1875 0 1875 1875 0 0 95099 800 97906 1750 -2807 -950 -3757 -3757 0 0 38508 11228 923 37585 0 37585 0 0 0 0 0 0 1518 1573 -55 -55 0 0 Misc Income 900099 315 315 0 0 0 0 0 0 315 3182481 289981 0 37585 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 82270 69144 8000 5126 0 0 0 0 997171 838072 96971 62128 45502 38242 4425 2835 74495 62610 7244 4641 80884 67979 7866 5039 0 0 0 0 147 147 0 0 10100 0 10100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 79673 52879 499 26295 24824 20805 4019 0 116364 88770 7244 20350 20535 17435 1890 1210 0 0 0 0 94595 82341 7469 4785 47012 45948 0 1064 0 0 0 0 52798 41275 4467 7056 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29831 25150 2853 1828 6123 0 6123 0 Public Outreach Expenses 14103 13331 0 772 Hospitality 1829 1537 178 114 Contributions 247 208 24 15 Lobbying 13645 13645 0 0 1792148 1479518 169372 143258 207268 232753 2515420 2203290 0 0 9355 8661 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11858 21604 976927 499550 500707 477377 1355696 3162565 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4600304 6106250 37150 31496 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 67741 80790 104891 112286 X 3985846 5482136 509567 511828 4495413 5993964 4600304 6106250 1390333 108218 0 0 0 0 X 1 X 1 X 1 0 X 1282725 1119897 1435535 1462714 2854915 8155786 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1282725 1119897 1435535 1462714 2854915 8155786 1033670 7122116 29708 54753 40463 45671 79253 249848 0 0 0 0 0 0 36484 233560 28886 0 0 298930 8704564 248313 0.81820 0.92559 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10 none RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1500 48022 49522 1742626 1792148 239607 59902 0 0 233427 236898 233949 239607 943881 1415822 30000 68420 4211 49522 152153 58357 59225 58487 59902 235971 353957 30000 15849 0 1500 47349 2428900 1310461 157868 0 50316 982 3845931 2380128 178174 -112803 0 16504 95 2428900 2219268 12680 148300 0 0 120 2380128 1507545 630989 80829 0 0 95 2219268 1339018 2425 166222 0 0 120 1507545 0.5461 0.1322 0.3217 0 0 0 13318 13318 0 763501 328439 435062 0 0 0 0 0 200108 171111 28997 0 0 0 0 477377 0 Payroll Liabiltiies 80790 80790 3294784 108218 0 0 398 108616 3186168 -1190 -2497 -3687 3182481 1796233 0 0 0 398 398 1795835 -1190 -2497 -3687 1792148 Schedule D, Part V, Line 4 Our endowment serves to diversify and stabilize our base of self-support in order to sustain the autonomy and independence of our organization, increase our financial self-sufficiency, ensure continued operations, and meet future needs and challenges. Our endowment is invested in a fiscally prudent and socially responsible manner to ensure that our investment activities complement our program work. Schedule D, Part XI, Line 2d We record inter-fund interest on our financial statements which is excluded from this form 990. Schedule D, Part XI, Line 4b Fees on sales of securities, fundraising event expenses, and merchandise purchases are included with revenue on the form 990 and recorded with expenses on our audited financial statements. Schedule D, Part XII, Line 2d We record inter-fund interest on our financial statements which is excluded from this form 990. Schedule D, Part XII, Line 4b We record fees on sales of securities, fundraising event expenses, and merchandise purchases as expenses on our audited financial statements but they are reported with revenues on the form 990. Annual Meeting 27242 11258 15984 0 0 0 0 0 0 Online Auction 10508 0 10508 0 0 0 0 0 923 0 37750 11258 26492 0 0 0 0 0 923 923 25569 X 2 8350 Sales of comparable vehicles X 5 20487 Market Quotes 0 0 1 0 Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 1a In addition to the Board of Directors, we also have the Organization and Finance Task Force which is authorized to act on behalf of the Board of Directors if decisions must be made before the full board can be convened. The O&F Task Force is composed of officers from the Board of Directors as well as individuals who hold certain positions described by our bylaws. The purpose of the O&F Task Force is to oversee the administration and finances of Northern Plains. The O&F Task Force reports to the Board of Directors on all of its meetings. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 6 We are a democratically-operated membership organization composed primarily of members who donate their time and resources to the organization for the purpose of directing and fulfilling program goals. We do not have stockholders or different classes of membership. All members in good standing are eligible to vote for officers and at-large board members annually. All members present at the Annual Meeting can introduce and vote on policy resolutions. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The form 990 is prepared by the Director of Finance & Administration, reviewed and edited by the Executive Director and Director of Fundraising, reviewed by the Organization and Finance Task Force, and distributed to the Board of Directors for final review. Upon review by the Board of Directors, the form 990 is posted on our website. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c The Board of Directors reviews organizational policies and governing documents, including the Conflict of Interest policy, from time to time. Every board member is issued a guidebook annually that includes several relevant organizational policies, including the Conflict of Interest policy. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 All members of the Organization and Finance Task Force are asked to complete a written evaluation of the Executive Director annually. The Chair of the Board and the Chair of the O&F Task Force hold a meeting with the Executive Director to conduct a performance evaluation and determine salary adjustments. The Executive Director determines all other salaries within the framework of the board-approved compensation philosophy and salary structure which are made available to all staff and board members. The Executive Director and the O&F Task Force review compensation and benefit surveys for the region periodically to ensure salaries stay within reasonable and competitive parameters. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 Financial statements are reviewed at every board meeting and at our annual meeting. Any member in good standing may request financial statements, governing documents, or our conflict of interest policy; we do not normally furnish this information to the general public. Our 990 filings for the last three years are made available to the general public on our website. Governing documents subject to public inspection are made available upon request.