Wyoming, Montana and the Environmental Protection Agency are making progress toward settling a lawsuit over Montana's water quality rules on the Tongue and Powder rivers, according to court records. U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer in Cheyenne recently granted a motion from the Wyoming attorney general's office to delay litigation until Oct. 7 so talks could continue. In court papers filed in early August, Wyoming Attorney General Pat Crank said the parties were making real progress toward resolving issues. Crank, who left office to enter private practice, stated that the parties were committed to continue meeting, but hadn't reached an agreement because of the complexity of the issues. "The outlines of how Montana, Wyoming and the EPA might administer water quality on the Tongue River, the Powder River and their respective tributaries is taking shape," Crank said.

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