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Exhibit 4.4(G)    
  

 
 

ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
  
    February 13, 2002    

The
Montana Power Company

40 East Broadway

Butte, MT 5970 

Bank
One, as Trustee

1 Bank One Plaza, Mail Code 111-0126

Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126

Attn: Mr. Steve Wagner/Corporate Trustee Administration 

Ladies
and Gentlemen: 

        Reference
is made to the proposed merger (the "Merger") of The Montana Power Company, a Montana corporation (the
"Company"), into The Montana Power, L.L.C., a Montana limited liability company ("MPC LLC"), which merger is expected to be completed on or about the
date hereof. Upon the consummation of the Merger, MPC LLC will be the surviving entity and the successor to the Company. 

        As
required by Section 6.01 of the Loan Agreement, such Loan Agreement between the City of Forsyth, Rosebud County, Montana and the Company, dated as of May 1, 1993 (as
amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Loan Agreement dated September 21, 2001, the "Loan Agreement"), MPC LLC hereby assumes and
agrees to fully perform and satisfy, as successor to the Company, all obligations, liabilities and covenants of the Company under the following agreements and instruments: 

        1.    the
Loan Agreement. 

        2.    the
First Mortgager Bonds; 

        3.    the
Tax Exemption Certificate and Agreement, by and among the Issuer, the Company and the Trustee, with respect to the Bonds, dated June 30, 1993; and 

        4.    the
Project Certificate of the Company, with respect to the Bonds, dated June 30, 1993. 

        MPC
LLC makes the following representations and warranties to the Company and the Trustee: 

        (a)    MPC
LLC is a limited liability company duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Montana. 

        (b)    MPC
LLC has the power to enter into this Assumption Agreement and to perform and observe the agreements and covenants on its part contained herein and by proper company
action has duly authorized the execution and delivery hereof. 

        (c)    neither
the execution and delivery of this Assumption Agreement nor the fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and conditions of this Assumption Agreement will
result in a breach of or constitute a default under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any company restriction or any agreement or instrument to which MPC LLC is now a party or by which it
is bound, or constitute a default under any of the foregoing, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the property or assets of
MPC LLC prohibited under the terms of any instrument; 

        (d)    No
event has occurred and is continuing under the provisions of either the Loan Agreement, or to the knowledge of MPC LLC, under the provisions of the Indenture, dated
as of May 1, 1993, between the City of Forsyth, Rosebud County, Montana and Bank One (as successor to The First National Bank of Chicago), as trustee (as amended and supplemented, the
"Indenture"), which event now constitutes, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or 

both, would constitute an Event of Default under either the Loan Agreement or the Indenture; and 

        (e)    No
consent, approval, authorization or other order of any regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body is legally required for MPC LLC's execution
and delivery of this Assumption Agreement. 

        All
capitalized terms set forth herein and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Loan Agreement. 

	 	 	THE MONTANA POWER, L.L.C.
	

 	
 	
BY:	

/s/  PATRICK T. FLEMING      
 Name: Patrick T. Fleming

Title: V.P., General Counsel & Secretary

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Exhibit 4.4(G)

ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT February 13, 2002QuickLinks
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Exhibit 4.4(h)    
  

Execution Version  

  
 

    ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
  (PCRB 1993A LOAN AGREEMENT)    
  

        This Assignment and Assumption Agreement (PCRB 1993A Loan Agreement) (this "Assignment and Assumption Agreement")
is made and entered into as of November 15, 2002 between NorthWestern Energy, L.L.C. ("Assignor", formerly known as The Montana Power, L.L.C.,
successor to the Montana Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds by merger to The Montana Power Company ("MPC")), and NorthWestern Corporation
("Assignee"). 

        WHEREAS,
Assignor and the City of Forsyth, Rosebud County, Montana (the "City of Forsyth"), are parties to that certain Loan Agreement,
dated as of May 1, 1993, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Loan Agreement dated September 21, 2001, and as otherwise amended, supplemented or modified form time to
time (the "1993A Loan Agreement"); 

        WHEREAS,
the City of Forsyth and Bank One Trust Company, N.A. (as successor in interest to The First National Bank of Chicago) (the
"Trustee") are party to an Indenture of Trust, dated May 1, 1993 (the "Indenture") relating to
the Pollution Control Revenue Bonds Series 1993A; 

        WHEREAS,
pursuant to the 1993A Loan Agreement, Assignor has pledged and delivered to Trustee its First Mortgage Bonds (as defined therein); 

        WHEREAS,
pursuant to the Asset and Stock Transfer Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2002, between Assignor and Assignee, the parties propose to consummate a restructuring
transaction involving the assignment by Assignor to Assignee and the assumption by Assignee of substantially all of Assignor's assets and liabilities (the
"Transaction"); 

        WHEREAS,
in connection with the Transaction and pursuant to Section 6.01 of the 1993A Loan Agreement, Assignor and Assignee are entering into this Assignment and Assumption
Agreement to specifically transfer and assign to Assignee, and for Assignee to assume, all of Assignor's rights and obligations under the 1993A Loan Agreement and the First Mortgage Bonds; and 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, adequacy and legal
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties do hereby agree as follows: 

	1.
	All
capitalized terms set forth herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning given to them in the Indenture and the 1993A Loan Agreement.

	2.
	Assignor
hereby assigns, transfers and conveys and sets over to Assignee, its successors and assigns, from and after the date hereof (collectively, the
"Assignment") all of Assignor's rights, interests, title, benefits and privileges in and to, and all of Assignor's obligations and liabilities in
connection with, each of the following (collectively, the "Assigned Agreements"):

	(a)
	the
1993A Loan Agreement;

	(b)
	the
First Mortgage Bonds;

	(c)
	the
Tax Exemption Certificate and Agreement, by and among the Issuer, Assignor and the Trustee, with respect to the Bonds, dated June 30, 1993; and

	(d)
	the
Project Certificate of Assignor, with respect to the Bonds, dated June 30, 1993. 

	3.
	Assignee
hereby accepts the Assignment and assumes and agrees, from and after the date hereof to pay, perform and discharge when due all of Assignor's obligations and liabilities
under, and to assume the due and punctual performance and observances of each term, covenant, condition and promise in the Assigned Agreements, to be performed and observed by Assignor, as fully and
completely as though it were originally named therein. 

 
	4.
	This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Montana, determined without reference to principles of conflicts of laws. 

[Signature
Page to Follow] 

2

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Assignment and Assumption Agreement as of the date first written above. 

	 	 	ASSIGNOR:

 NORTHWESTERN ENERGY, L.L.C.
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  MICHAEL K. HANSON      
 Name: Michael K. Hanson

Title: President and CEO

	 	 	ASSIGNEE:

 NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  ERIC R. JACOBSEN      
 Name: Eric R. Jacobsen

Title: SVP, General Counsel and CLO

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Exhibit 4.4(h)

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT (PCRB 1993A LOAN AGREEMENT)QuickLinks
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Exhibit 4.4.(I)    
  

        LOAN AGREEMENT  

 between

CITY OF FORSYTH, ROSEBUD COUNTY, MONTANA

and

THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY  

 

Dated as of December 1, 1993
  

Relating to

$80,000,000

Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds

(The Montana Power Company Colstrip Project)

Series 1993B 

        The
amounts payable by The Montana Power Company to the City of Forsyth, Rosebud County, Montana, under Sections 4.04 and 9.01 of this Loan Agreement and on the First Mortgage Bonds
delivered by such Company pursuant to this Loan Agreement, together with certain other amounts payable by such Company under this Loan Agreement and certain other rights of such City under this Loan
Agreement, have been pledged and assigned to The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee under the Indenture of Trust, dated as of December 1, 1993, of such City to such Trustee. For the
purpose of perfecting the security interest of such Trustee in such amounts payable, and such rights assigned to such Trustee, under the Montana Uniform Commercial Code—Secured
Transactions or otherwise, the counterpart of this Loan Agreement delivered, pledged and assigned to such Trustee shall be deemed the original thereof. 

  

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS    
  

	 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	Page

	Article I	 	DEFINITIONS	 	2
	 	 	Section 1.01.	 	Definitions	 	2
	Article II	 	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES	 	2
	 	 	Section 2.01.	 	Representations and Warranties of the Issuer	 	2
	 	 	Section 2.02.	 	Representations and Warranties of the Company	 	3
	Article III	 	THE FACILITIES	 	4
	 	 	Section 3.01.	 	Maintenance of Facilities	 	4
	 	 	Section 3.02.	 	Facilities Insurance	 	5
	 	 	Section 3.03.	 	Condemnation	 	5
	 	 	Section 3.04.	 	Termination of Operation	 	5
	Article IV	 	ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS; THE LOAN; DISPOSiTION OF PROCEEDS OF THE BONDS; LOAN PAYMENTS	 	6
	 	 	Section 4.01.	 	Issuance of the Bonds	 	6
	 	 	Section 4.02.	 	Issuance of Other Obligations	 	6
	 	 	Section 4.03.	 	The Loan; Disposition of Bond Proceeds; Refunding Prior Bonds	 	6
	 	 	Section 4.04.	 	Loan Repayments	 	6
	Article V	 	THE FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS; OTHER OBLIGATIONS	 	7
	 	 	Section 5.01.	 	Issuance, Delivery and Surrender of First Mortgage Bonds	 	7
	 	 	Section 5.02.	 	Payments Assigned; Obligation Absolute	 	7
	 	 	Section 5.03.	 	Payment of Expenses	 	8
	 	 	Section 5.04.	 	Indemnification	 	8
	 	 	Section 5.05.	 	Payment of Taxes; Discharge of Liens	 	9
	Article VI	 	SPECIAL COVENANTS	 	9
	 	 	Section 6.01.	 	Maintenance of Existence	 	9
	 	 	Section 6.02.	 	Permits or Licenses	 	10
	 	 	Section 6.03.	 	Issuer's Access to Facilities	 	10
	 	 	Section 6.04.	 	Arbitrage and Tax Exemption Certifications and Covenants	 	10
	 	 	Section 6.05.	 	Use of Facilities	 	11
	 	 	Section 6.06.	 	Financing Statements	 	11
	Article VII	 	ASSIGNMENT	 	11
	 	 	Section 7.01.	 	Conditions	 	11
	 	 	Section 7.02.	 	Instruments Furnished to Trustee	 	12
	 	 	Section 7.03.	 	Limitation	 	12
	Article VIII	 	EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES	 	12
	 	 	Section 8.01.	 	Events of Default	 	12
	 	 	Section 8.02.	 	Force Majeure	 	12
	 	 	Section 8.03.	 	Remedies	 	13
	 	 	Section 8.04.	 	No Remedy Exclusive	 	13
	 	 	Section 8.05.	 	Reimbursement of Attorneys' Fees	 	13
	 	 	Section 8.06.	 	Waiver of Breach	 	14
	 	 	Section 8.07.	 	No Liability of Issuer	 	14
	Article IX	 	REDEMPTION OF BONDS	 	14
	 	 	Section 9.01.	 	Redemption of Bonds	 	14
	 	 	Section 9.02.	 	Compliance with the Indenture	 	15
	Article X	 	MISCELLANEOUS	 	15
	 	 	Section 10.01.	 	Term of Loan Agreement	 	15
	 	 	Section 10.02.	 	Notices	 	15
	 	 	Section 10.03.	 	Parties In Interest	 	15

i

 

	 	 	Section 10.04.	 	Amendments	 	16
	 	 	Section 10.05.	 	Counterparts	 	16
	 	 	Section 10.06.	 	Severability	 	16
	 	 	Section 10.07.	 	Governing Law	 	16
	Exhibit A.	 	Colstrip Units Nos. 3 and 4 Pollution Control Facilities	 	A-1

ii

  

        Section 7.02. Instruments Furnished to Trustee.    The Company shall, within fifteen (15) days after the delivery
thereof, furnish to the Issuer and the Trustee a true and complete copy of the agreements or other documents effectuating any such assignment. 

        Section 7.03. Limitation.    This Loan Agreement shall not be assigned nor shall the Facilities be leased or sold, in
whole or in part, except as provided in this Article VII or in Sections 3.01 or 6.01. 

 
 

ARTICLE VIII
  
    EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES    
  

        Section 8.01. Events of Default.    Each of the following events shall constitute and is referred to in this Loan
Agreement as an "Event of Default": 

        (a)    a
failure by the Company to pay when due any amounts required to be paid under Section 4.04(a) hereof, which failure results in an Event of Default under Sections
8.01(a) or 8.01(b) of the Indenture; 

        (b)    a
failure by the Company to pay when due any amount required to be paid under this Loan Agreement or to observe and perform any covenant, condition or agreement on its
part to be observed or performed (other than a failure referred to in subsection (a) above), which failure shall continue for a period of ninety (90) days after written notice,
specifying such failure and requesting that it be remedied, shall have been given to the Company by the Issuer or the Trustee, unless the Issuer and the Trustee shall agree in writing to an extension
of such period prior to its expiration; provided, however, that the Issuer and the Trustee will be deemed to have agreed to an extension of such period if corrective action is initiated by the Company
within such period and is being diligently pursued; or 

        (c)    an
occurrence of a "Default" as such term is defined in Section 65 of the Mortgage. 

        Section 8.02. Force Majeure.    The provisions of Section 8.01(b) hereof are subject to the following limitations:
If by reason of acts of God; strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances; acts of public enemies; orders of any kind of the government of the United States or of the State of Montana or any
department, agency, political subdivision, court or official of any of them, or any civil or military authority; insurrections; riots or other untoward conduct; epidemics; landslides; lightning;
earthquakes; volcanoes; fires; hurricanes; tornadoes; storms; floods; washouts; droughts; arrests; restraint of government and people; civil disturbances; explosions; breakage or accident to
machinery; partial or entire failure of utilities; or any cause or event not reasonably within the control of the Company, the Company is unable in whole or in part to carry out any one or more of its
agreements or obligations contained herein, other than its obligations under Sections 4.04, 5.01, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05 and 6.01 hereof and on the First Mortgage Bonds, the Company shall not be deemed in
default by reason of not carrying out said agreement or agreements or performing said obligation or obligations during the continuance of such inability. The Company shall make reasonable efforts to
remedy with all reasonable dispatch the cause or causes preventing it from carrying out its agreements and obligations; provided, that the settlement of strikes, lockouts and other industrial
disturbances shall be entirely within the discretion of the Company, and the Company shall not be required to make settlement of strikes, lockouts and other industrial disturbances by acceding to the
demands of the opposing party or parties when such course is in the judgment of the Company unfavorable to the Company. 

        Section 8.03. Remedies.    (a) Upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, the Trustee, as
assignee of the Issuer may take, or cause to be taken, any action at law or in equity as may appear necessary or desirable to collect any payments then due and thereafter to become due, or to enforce
performance and observance of any obligation, agreement or covenant of the Company herein. 

9

 

        (b)    Any
waiver of any "Event of Default" under the Indenture and a rescission and annulment of its consequences shall constitute a waiver of any corresponding Event of
Default under this Loan Agreement and a rescission and annulment of the consequences thereof. 

        (c)    Any
amounts collected from the Company pursuant to this Section 8.03 shall be applied in accordance with the Indenture. No action taken pursuant to this
Section 8.03 shall relieve the Company from the Company's obligations pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof. 

        Section 8.04. No Remedy Exclusive.    No remedy conferred upon or reserved to the Issuer hereby is intended to be
exclusive of any other available remedy or remedies, but each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at
law or in equity or by statute. No delay or omission to exercise any right or power accruing upon any default shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver thereof, but any
such right or power may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient. In order to entitle the Issuer to exercise arty remedy reserved to it in this Article VIII, it
shall not be necessary to give any notice, other than such notice as may be herein expressly required. Such rights and remedies as are given the Issuer hereunder shall also extend to the Trustee. The
Trustee and the
Owners, subject to the provisions of the Indenture, shall be entitled to the benefit of all covenants and agreements herein contained. 

        Section 8.05. Reimbursement of Attorneys' Fees.    If the Company shall default under any of the provisions hereof and
the Issuer or the Trustee shall employ attorneys or incur other reasonable and proper expenses for the collection of payments due hereunder or for the enforcement of performance or observance of any
obligation or agreement on the part of the Company contained herein, the Company will on demand therefor reimburse the Issuer or the Trustee, as the case may be, for the reasonable fees of such
attorneys and such other reasonable expenses so incurred. 

        Section 8.06. Waiver of Breach.    In the event any obligation created hereby shall be breached by either of the parties
hereto and such breach shall thereafter be waived by the other party, such waiver shall be limited to the particular breach so waived and shall not be deemed to waive any other breach hereunder. In
view of the assignment of certain of the Issuer's rights and interests hereunder to the Trustee, the Issuer shall have no power to waive any default hereunder by the Company in respect of such rights
and interests without the consent of the Trustee and the Trustee may exercise any of the rights of the Issuer hereunder. 

        Section 8.07. No Liability of Issuer.    The Bonds are issued under and pursuant to the Act and shall be limited
obligations of the Issuer payable solely out of the Receipts and Revenues of the Issuer from the Loan Agreement. No holder of any Bond has the right to compel any exercise of the taxing power of the
Issuer to pay the Bonds or the interest or premium, if any, thereon, and the Bonds shall not constitute an indebtedness of the Issuer or a loan of credit thereof within the meaning of any
constitutional or statutory provisions. 

 
 

ARTICLE IX
  
    REDEMPTION OF BONDS    
  

        Section 9.01. Redemption of Bonds.    The Issuer shall take, or cause to be taken, the actions required by the Indenture
to discharge the lien thereof through the redemption, or provision for payment or redemption, of all Bonds then Outstanding, or to effect the redemption, or provision for payment or redemption, of
less than all the Bonds then Outstanding, upon receipt by the Issuer and the Trustee from the Company of a notice designating the principal amount and maturity of the Bonds to be redeemed, or for the
payment or redemption of which provision is to be made, and, in the case of redemption of Bonds, or provision therefor, specifying the date of redemption, which shall not be less than
forty-five (45) days from the date such notice is given, the applicable provision of the 

10

 

Indenture and that all conditions precedent to the Company's right to direct the redemption or the provision for payment or redemption of the Bonds contained in the Indenture have been complied with.
Except in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 3.01(c) of the Indenture, such notice (unless otherwise stated therein) shall be revocable by the Company at any time prior to the time at
which the Bonds to be redeemed, or for the payment or redemption of which provision is to be made, are first deemed to be paid in accordance with Article VII of the Indenture. The Company shall
furnish any moneys required by the Indenture to be deposited with the Trustee or otherwise paid by the Issuer in connection with any of the foregoing purposes including moneys for payment of any
premium on the Bonds which is not otherwise provided for. 

        Section 9.02. Compliance with the Indenture.    Anything in this Loan Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Issuer and the Company shall take all actions required by this Loan Agreement and the Indenture in order to comply with Section 3.01(c).of the Indenture. 

 
 

ARTICLE X
  
    MISCELLANEOUS    
  

        Section 10.01. Term of Loan Agreement.    This Loan Agreement shall remain in full force and effect from the date hereof
until the right, title and interest of the Trustee in and to the Trust Estate shall have ceased, terminated and become void in accordance with Article VII of the Indenture and until all
payments required under this Loan Agreement shall have been made. Any moneys remaining in the Bond Fund after the right, title and interest of the Trustee in and to the Trust Estate shall have ceased,
terminated and become void shall be paid to the Company. 

        Section 10.02. Notices.    Except as otherwise provided in this Loan Agreement, all notices, certificates, requests,
requisitions and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given and shall be deemed given when mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: if
to the Issuer, at City Hall, Forsyth, Montana 59327, Attention: Mayor; if to the Company, at 40 East Broadway, Butte, Montana 59701, Attention: Treasurer; and if to the Trustee at such address as
shall be designated in the Indenture. A copy of each notice, certificate, request or other communication given hereunder to the Issuer, the Company or the Trustee shall also be given to the others.
Any of the foregoing may, by notice given hereunder, designate any further or different addresses to which subsequent notices, certificates, requests or other communications shall be sent. 

        Section 10.03. Parties In Interest.    This Loan Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the
Issuer, the Company and their respective successors and assigns, and no other person, firm or corporation shall have any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Loan Agreement; provided,
however, that neither the Issuer, the State of Montana, or any political subdivision thereof shall in any event be liable for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the
Bonds or for the performance of any pledge, mortgage, obligation or agreement created by or arising out of the Loan Agreement or the issuance of the Bonds; and provided, further, that neither the
Bonds nor any obligation of the Issuer created by or arising under this Loan Agreement shall constitute an indebtedness or loan of credit of the Issuer, the State of Montana or any political
subdivision thereof within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory provisions whatsoever, but shall be limited obligations of the Issuer payable solely out of the revenues derived from the
First Mortgage Bonds or this Loan Agreement, or from the sale of the Bonds, or income earned on invested funds as provided herein and in the Indenture. 

        Section 10.04. Amendments.    This Loan Agreement may be amended only by written agreement of the parties hereto, subject
to the limitations set forth herein and in the Indenture. 

11

 

        Section 10.05. Counterparts.    This Loan Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when so
executed and delivered, shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Loan Agreement. 

        Section 10.06. Severability.    In case any one or more provisions of this Loan Agreement shall, for any reason, be held
to be illegal or invalid, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and this Loan Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal or invalid provisions
had not been contained herein. 

        Section 10.07. Governing Law.    The laws of the State of Montana shall govern the construction and enforcement of this
Loan Agreement. 

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Loan Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written. 

	 	 	CITY OF FORSYTH,

ROSEBUD COUNTY, MONTANA
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  WARREN BANKER      
 Mayor
	

ATTEST:

/s/  DANIEL D. WATSON      	

 
	
 City Clerk	 
	 	 	THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  JERROLD P. PEDERSON      
 Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

12

  

 
 

EXHIBIT A
  
    COLSTRIP UNITS NOS. 3 AND 4 POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITIES    
  

	1.
	POLLUTION
CONTROL EQUIPMENT 

 Scrubber System  

The
air pollution control facilities employed on Units #3 and #4 consist of a complete scrubber system, including duet work, plenums, scrubber vessels, reheaters and induced draft fans, together with
infrastructures, monitoring and electrical controls and instrumentation therefore, for the purpose of removing the sulfur dioxide (S02) and particulate matter from the flue gas. The
scrubber system also includes a scrubber maintenance facility, Including a machine shop and laboratory dedicated to the scrubber system and an environment monitoring laboratory for the pollution
control facilities. The scrubber system utilizes the Wet Venturi Principle and consists of eight modules for each unit through which the steam generator gases from the burned coal must pass. 

The
gases in the scrubber are contacted with finely atomized scrubber slurry. Within the stated performance of the system, fly ash particulates are removed by the slurry droplets. The sulfur dioxide
reacts with the alkali contained in the slurry which results from the mixing of water, fly ash particulates, hydrated high calcium lime and hydrated dolomitic lime. A major portion of the sulfur
dioxide is converted to solid sulfate compounds which are retained in the scrubber liquid and can, therefore, be piped to and deposited in an ash pond together with the particulate. 

After
the flue gas passes through the venturi section, absorption sprays and wash trays, it is processed through a demister which removes any entrained slurry and Is then reheated and discharged
through the stack. 

The
slurry system in the Units #3 and #4 scrubber system consists of recycle tanks, regenerators, agitators, pumps and pipelines. The slurry from the Units #3 and #4 scrubber system is transported to
an effluent holding pond and involves. the use of effluent holding tanks, agitators, pumps and pipelines. A separate wash tray pond system is used to store the suspended solids collected from the wash
tray system. Reclaimed water tram the clear water section of these ponds is circulated back to the scrubber system.— 

 Lime Storage  

The
sole purpose of the lime system is to supply the lime slurry requirements of the scrubber regeneration system. There is one lime system that serves the sixteen scrubbers for Units #3 and #4. Major
components of the system include tour slakers, in which calcined high calcium lime is reacted with water to produce a hydrated lime slurry, slurry transfer tanks, where the slurry is diluted with
water and mixed with dry hydrated dolomitic lime, slurry feed storage tanks, where the slurry will be held for use by the regenerators as needed, hydrators, for mixing calcined dolomitic lime with
water, and agitators. 

 Scrubber Sludge Disposal  

Effluent
slurry is pumped from the plant to the sludge disposal pond located approximately three miles southeast of the plant. The suspended solids settle to the pond bottom and the clear water is
pumped back to the plant. 

There
are two phases in the development of this pond. The first phase requires the construction of one dam 108 feet high and 1,100 feet in length. A saddle dam must also be added. The saddle dam will
vary in height with a maximum height for this phase of 36 feet and be approximately 

A-1

 

2,800 feet in length. The capacity of Phase 1 will be 6,560 acre-feet and it will last approximately 10 years. 

The
development of the second phase will require that the original dam be raised to 138 feet in height and increased to a length of 2,500 feet. The saddle dam will be raised to a maximum height of 66
feet and a total length of 3,500 feet. The capacity of the second phase will be an additional 7,000 acre-feet and It will last approximately 12 years, for a total life of
22 years. The construction of the second phase is not included in cost reported at this time. 

The
sludge disposal pond design takes into account a permit requirement for minimum seepage, by providing low permeability plastic concrete filled trenches around the periphery of the pond constructed
during the course of Phase 1 work. 

 Coal Dust Control System  

The
coal dust control system is designed to collect, store and treat coal dust resulting from mining, crushing, handling and storing coal in the course of normal Units #3 and #4 operations. To control
coal dust air pollution the points where coal is transferred between conveyors or placed in coal piles have been enclosed. The coal transfer stations between conveyors are enclosed with steel framed
structures with metal siding. The structures are equipped with vacuum filtration systems, consisting of ducts, blowers, dust removal filters and associated equipment, to remove coal dust from exhaust
air from the structures, and are also equipped with mechanical dust collectors. The mainline 45,000 ton coal storage pile is enclosed with a 340 long A-frame precut panel concrete
structure designed to contain coal dust, thereby allowing its removal and treatment. 

 Cooling Tower Drift Containment Control Facility  

Operation
of the cooling towers produces exhaust air emissions containing circulating water, particles and other pollutants generally known as cooling tower drift. To control release of these air
pollutants, the cooling towers are provided with high efficiency drift eliminators, located at the top of the cooling tower structures, which remove drift from the cooling tower exhaust air. 

	2.
	SOLID
WASTE DISPOSAL 

 Bottom Ash Disposal  

The
function of the bottom ash disposal system is to remove accumulations of furnace bottom ash, pulverizer pyrites, economizer ash, and air preheater fly ash by means of a water-ash
slurry to a disposal pond located approximately 2,000 feet southeast of the plant site. The system consists generally of three sets of fly ash hoppers, (economizer, air heater, and flue gas duct
hoppers) pyrite hoppers, the bottom ash hopper, an 18,000 gallon transfer tank, a settling pond, a clear water pond and various pumps, and pipelines. 

Clinker
grinders are used to grind the bottom ash which is then mixed with water and sluiced to the ash transfer tank. 

The
economizer ash collected In economizer hoppers falls by gravity to the ash transfer tank. 

The
pyrites are collected in local tanks and sluiced to the ash transfer tank. 

Ash
collected in the flue gas duct hoppers and air preheater hoppers is sluiced to the ash transfer tank. 

Those
ashes are pumped from the ash transfer tank to the bottom ash pond. Reclaimed water is returned from the bottom ash disposal pond and redistributed to the various sections of the bottom ash
disposal system. 

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The
solid waste disposal facilities for purposes of the issuance of the Notes include only so much of the bottom ash disposal system as is external to the plant building and include piping from the
building to the settling pond, the pond itself, return water pumps and lines, a clear water pond and piping back to the plant building. 

	3.
	WATER
POLLUTION CONTROL 

 North Plant Sediment Pond  

The
north plant sediment pond is designed to collect and store the storm runoff from the general north plant area. These waters are retrained In the pond, allowing natural evaporation to desiccate the
pond. This prevents high quantities of suspended solids from being discharged to Armells Creek or other state surface waters. 

 North Plant Area Drainage System  

The
north plant area drainage system is designed to collect and store storm runoff from the water treatment building, fuel oil handling area and the cooling tower area in the north plant area drain
pond. The pond also serves as a storage facility for one cooling tower basin drain, cooling tower overflow, water treatment filter backwash, and for the cooling tower blowdown water not used in the
flue gas scrubbing process. These waters are potentially contaminated with oil and high suspended and dissolved solids, and this system stores these discharges preventing any discharge to Armeils
Creek or other state surface waters. The north plant area drainage system consists of collection basins, piping, concrete culverts, yard drains, manholes and special yard gradings (berms) which route
these discharges to the north plant area sump and north plant area drain pond. The north plant area drain pond incorporates a hypalon liner to comply with a permit requirement for minimum seepage. The
oil separator section of the sump receives oily surface collection drains. The oil and water are separated. The oil from the stamp is then trucked away for disposal. 

The
water discharges are either pumped to the scrubber effluent holding pond via a 6" diameter pipeline, 19,000 feet in length for evaporation, to the circulating water system, or to the plant oily
waste sump as appropriate. Each discharge arrangement has its own set of sump pumps. The pumps and piping system which discharge to the plant oily waste sump are not Included in the costs covered by
this Report, nor is the circulating water system. The waters recovered are excess to any plant requirements and recovery of the waters does not provide any economic benefit to the plant. 

 Chemical and Oily Waste System  

The
chemical and oily waste system is designed to collect, store, treat and dispose of chemical and oily wastes resulting from the normal operation of Units #3 and #4. This system consists of drains
and pipes, oil separators, chemical waste stamps, chemical waste neutralizing tanks, neutralizing chemical storage tanks, chemical inspection equipment, and associated mechanical and electrical
control equipment. 

The
chemical waste drainage system includes drains and neutralization tanks for collection and treatment of chemical waste. Chemical waste drains are located throughout Units #3 and #4, and are used
to collect and transfer chemical waste to holding stamps and neutralization tanks. The neutralization equipment includes chemical storage and Injection equipment as well as controls and
instrumentation. 

The
oily waste drainage system is made up of a network of drains which collect oily waste from throughout Units #3 and #4, and dispose of the wastes in the Units #3 and #4 main water-oil
sump. Oil separation chambers in the stamp allow for oil removal. The treated water is monitored 

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for trace oil levels and released. After separation, the waste oil is removed by a contractor to an offsite disposal area. 

 Cooling Tower Slowdown System  

The
cooling tower blowdown system consists of a 6" pipeline from the cooling tower to the waste disposal pond where the blowdown is treated by settlement and evaporation In accordance with water
pollution control requirements. 

 Groundwater Monitoring Wells  

Groundwater
monitoring wells have been installed around the various ponds associated with the plant operation. These ponds include the scrubber effluent holding pond, the scrubber drain pond, the
scrubber wash tray pond, the bottom ash pond, and the north plant area effluent pond. These groundwater monitoring wells provide the ability through sampling to detect and quantify accidental
discharges from the above mentioned plant storage and waste ponds. This is necessary to show compliance with State Groundwater Standards and with permit requirements for minimum seepage. 

A-4

QuickLinks

Exhibit 4.4.(I)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

ARTICLE IX REDEMPTION OF BONDS

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

EXHIBIT A COLSTRIP UNITS NOS. 3 AND 4 POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITIES

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