Ellis Julin

Montana's largest coal-fired power plant, Coal Strip, is the highest emitter of these air toxins in the country.

This rollback is the EPA's latest deregulation.

It is expected to draw legal challenges.

For NPR News, I'm Ellis Julin in Missoula, Montana.

The U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service now has until December 28th of this year to decide on delisting.

Grizzly bears in the lower 48 are classified as threatened on the endangered species list.

The agency was originally court-ordered to make a decision by the end of January, but a federal judge extended that deadline.

Several western states have pushed for bears to be removed from the endangered species list.

Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho have said the bears' numbers have recovered since listing, and they should be put under state-level management.

Wildlife advocacy groups say bears only occupy a small fraction of their historic range.

There are also concerns over how hunting could further impact population recovery.

Grizzlies will remain federally protected until the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service makes its final decision.

For NPR News, I'm Ellis Julin in Missoula, Montana.

The U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service now has until December 28th of this year to decide on delisting.

Grizzly bears in the lower 48 are classified as threatened on the endangered species list.

The agency was originally court-ordered to make a decision by the end of January, but a federal judge extended that deadline.

Several western states have pushed for bears to be removed from the endangered species list.