Intern to assist Protect the Clearwater this summer

Riley Comstock, a double major Environmental Science and Sustainability and Journalism sophomore at University of Montana, accepted an internship with Protect the Clearwater (PTC).

Protect the Clearwater a nonprofit founded in 2023 challenges Montana DEQ's actions as violations of the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), the Montana Public Participation Act and the Montana Constitution. The internship is funded through the Baucus Institute Climate Scholars program. The internship will be for June and July 2024. PTC connected with the Baucus Institute at the UM Conservation and Sustainability Careers and Opportunistic Fair in October 2023. PTC applied for and were chosen as a host for the Climate Scholars Program.

"Riley will be helping us with community outreach and education," Gayla Nicholson, PTC Board member said. "He'll be using the skills he uses as Communications Coordinator for the Watershed Education Network in Missoula."

"I'm excited to be working with different experts across Western Montana, to find out the impacts the Elbow Lake Gravel Pit mine will have on the ecosystem and economics of the area," Comstock said." I'm looking forward to helping get the word out to as many people across western Montana as possible."

Growing up in western Washington, Comstock spent time outside enjoying the natural world and developing a passion for the environment. He knew that was what he wanted to study in college.

Adding Journalism to the Environmental Science degree felt like a good fit to Comstock as the interests "play well" together in some overlap of skills. In addition Comstock is in the Honors College at University of Montana.

"I think it's really awesome that PTC is a grassroots organization that has gotten so far in their legal efforts," Comstock said. "It's really admirable that they have gotten it together so fast. I'm excited to work with them."