Montana Code Annotated
Part 3. Appropriations, Permits, and Certificates of Water Rights
85-2-307. Notice of application for permit or change in appropriation right

85-2-307. Notice of application for permit or change in appropriation right. (1) Upon receipt of an application for a permit or a change in appropriation right, the department shall publish notice of receipt of the application on the department's website.
(2) (a) Within 120 days of the receipt of a correct and complete application for a permit or change in appropriation right, the department:
(i) may meet informally with the applicant, the persons listed in subsection (2)(d), and persons who may claim standing pursuant to 85-2-308 to discuss the application;
(ii) shall make a written preliminary determination as to whether or not the application satisfies the applicable criteria for issuance of a permit or change in appropriation right; and
(iii) may include conditions in the written preliminary determination to satisfy applicable criteria for issuance of a permit or change in appropriation right.
(b) If the preliminary determination proposes to grant an application, the department shall prepare a notice containing the facts pertinent to the application, including the summary of the preliminary determination and any conditions, and shall publish the notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the source.
(c) If the preliminary determination proposes to deny an application, the process provided in 85-2-310 must be followed.
(d) Before the date of publication, the department shall also serve the notice by first-class mail upon:
(i) an appropriator of water or applicant for or holder of a permit who, according to the records of the department, may be affected by the proposed appropriation;
(ii) any purchaser under contract for deed, as defined in 70-20-115, of property that, according to the records of the department, may be affected by the proposed appropriation; and
(iii) any public agency that has reserved waters in the source under 85-2-316.
(e) The department may, in its discretion, also serve notice upon any state agency or other person the department feels may be interested in or affected by the proposed appropriation.
(f) The department shall file in its records proof of service by affidavit of the publisher in the case of notice by publication and by its own affidavit in the case of service by mail.
(3) The notice must state that by a date set by the department, not less than 15 days or more than 60 days after the date of publication, persons may file with the department written objections to the application.
History: En. Sec. 17, Ch. 452, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 485, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 89-881; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 357, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 448, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 526, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 535, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 370, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 70, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 251, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 52, L. 2015.

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