Source: http://www.oilandgasbmps.org/laws/montana_law.php
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 20:52:22+00:00

Document:
This section includes links to Montana statutes, regulations, guidelines, and policies related to oil and gas surface operations.
Oil and gas development in Montana is governed primarily by state constitutional provisions (art. II, § 3, art. IX, §§ 1-2), statutory provisions of the Montana Code (Mont. Code Ann. § 82-10-101, et seq. - § 82-11-101, et seq.), and rules promulgated by the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation (MBOGC) (ARM 36.22.101, et seq.). The MBOGC also issues drilling permits, oversees industry activity, and implements Montana’s oil and gas laws in a manner consistent with the goals of conservation, efficient resource development, waste prevention, and protection of surface owner rights and subsurface mineral rights. Montana’s Environmental Policy Act (§ 75-1-101, et seq.), Clean Air Act (§ 75-2-101, et seq.), and Water Quality Act (§75-5-101, et seq.) also play significant roles in regulating the environmental impacts of oil and gas development in Montana. These Acts are administered by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and are supplemented by MDEQ-issued rules and regulations pertaining to air and water quality. Additionally, the MBOGC and the MDEQ issue a variety of policy statements and guidance documents to guide the future of oil and gas development in Montana in an environmentally conscious manner. See the following for more information and links to the above.
All persons have the right to "a clean and healthful environment…"
"The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations… and the legislature shall provide adequate remedies for the protection of the environmental life support system from degradation and provide adequate remedies to prevent unreasonable depletion and degradation of natural resources."
"All lands disturbed by the taking of natural resources shall be reclaimed… [and] the legislature shall provide effective requirements and standards for the reclamation of lands disturbed."
“The legislature shall provide for the identification, acquisition, restoration, enhancement, preservation, and administration of scenic, historic, archeologic, scientific, cultural, and recreational areas, sites, records and objects and for their use and enjoyment by the people.
§ 82-10-500, et seq. Surface Owner Damage and Disruption Compensation – establishes requirements for surface owner notification of oil and gas operations, reasonable attempts at negotiation between the operator and the surface owner in the event of surface disturbance, and payment of damages for surface disturbances, including lost agricultural production and income, lost land value, and lost value of improvements.
Oil and gas development on state lands in Montana is subject to additional regulations pursuant to § 77-3-400, et seq., which contains provisions authorizing the MBOGC to lease state lands for oil and gas exploration, mining, and drilling and establishes the applicable requirements and limitations of those leases.
The Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation (MBOGC) is the state agency responsible for implementing Montana’s oil and gas laws in a manner consistent with the goals of conservation and efficient resource development, waste prevention, and protection of surface owner rights and subsurface mineral rights. The MBOGC also issues drilling permits, administers bonds (required to guarantee the eventual proper plugging of wells and restoration of surface land), classifies wells, repairs abandoned wells, and promulgates rules consistent with applicable oil and gas statutes.
36.22.502 Plugging and Abandonment - Sets forth the rules for plugging and abandoning seismic shot holes by the company, firm, corporation, or individual responsible for the drilling of the shot holes.
36.22.1308 – Plugging and Restoration Bond – establishes bond requirements for oil and gas operators.
The following are various guidelines and policy statements issued by the MBOGC and other state agencies aimed at guiding oil and gas development throughout Montana in an environmentally conscious manner and at increasing understanding of and compliance with current oil and gas laws and regulations.
Open Letter About Oil and Gas Development from the Montana State Director – Issued by the Montana State Director of the Bureau of Land Management, the Open Letter recognizes the adverse impacts of oil and gas development on the environment, wildlife, and natural resources of the state and urges responsible energy development and cooperation between industry, state agencies, and interested parties.
Guide to Split Estates in Oil and Gas Development for Surface and Mineral Owners – The Guide to Split Estates is a user-friendly document intended to assist surface owners understand their legal responsibilities as well as their legal protections in connection with the development of oil and gas resources beneath their property.
Montana Statewide Oil and Gas Environmental Impact Statement – The Environmental Impact Statement was compiled in 2003 by the Bureau of Land Management, the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and documents and discloses the results of environmental analysis of anticipated coal bed methane and traditional oil and gas development in the state of Montana.
Coal Bed Methane Frequently Asked Questions – The FAQs were compiled by the Montana State University Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences to provide background information about coal bed methane development and related environmental impacts.
Montana Department of Environmental Quality Coal Bed Methane (CBM) web site – Provides information on laws, regulations, and permits, water quality issues, and other CBM topics in Wyoming.
Air quality in Montana is provided for by the Clean Air Act of Montana (Mont. Code Ann. § 75-2-101, et seq.). The Act is administered by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) through its Air Quality Program and seeks "to achieve and maintain levels of air quality that will protect human health and safety and, to the greatest degree possible, prevent injury to plant and animal life…" The MDEQ is responsible for developing emissions standards, issuing permits, and promulgating rules consistent with the Clean Air Act.
Current Air Quality Rules can be found in Title 17, Chapter 8 of the Administrative Rules of Montana or on the MDEQ website.
Montana’s Water Quality Act (Mon. Code Ann. §75-5-101, et seq.) (http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/75_5.htm) aims to "conserve water by protecting, maintaining, and improving the quality of water" throughout the state and to "provide a comprehensive program for the prevention, abatement, and control of water pollution." The MDEQ administers the Act with the assistance of the Water Pollution Control Advisory Council.
Current Water Quality Rules can be found in Title 17, Chapter 30 of the Administrative Rules of Montana.

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