Text Size 
Cabinsite SB409 Rules and MEPA
Update April 6, 2012
On April 5, 2012, the Montana First Judicial District Court issued a preliminary injunction preventing the State of Montana from implementing any of the terms of Senate Bill 409. This injunction also prohibits the land board or the DNRC from applying any rules or regulations adopted to implement Senate Bill 409
The court indicated that the preliminary injunction shall remain in full force and effect pending the final outcome of this case.
Until the final outcome of this case, the billing methods for individual cabin site leases will remain based on existing rules.
Update December 16, 2011
The official public comment period for the rule proposal regarding cabinsite leasing ended on December 8. The proposed adoption notice will be brought to the December 19 Land Board meeting for the board's discussion and final approval. The agenda item and the Final EA are now available.
- Comments Received - November 10, 2011 through December 8, 2011.
November 10, 2011
The draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed administrative rules is now available online.
MEPA For SB409 – The EA analyzes the effects of developing and adopting administrative rules as authorized pursuant to SB409 (Chapter 401 of the 2011 Montana Session Laws and codified in part as 77-1-235 and 77-1-236, MCA).
The official comment period is 28 days beginning November 10, 2011. Comments will be accepted until December 8, 2011. Comments may be provided at one of the two public hearings described below. Comments on the EA may be submitted via email or mailed to:
SB409 Rules MEPA Comments
DNRC – REMB
PO BOX 201601
Helena, MT 59620-1601
Send an emailOctober 27, 2011
Rules for SB409 – Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed Adoption of New Rules I through VI and the Amendment of ARM 36.25.1011.
On October 24, 2011, the Land Board approved the initiation of the administrative rule making process based on a set of draft rules. These draft rules will implement Senate Bill 409, which was passed in the 2011 Montana regular legislative session.
The official comment period is 28 days beginning November 10, 2011. The comment period closes December 8, 2011.
- View the draft rules.
Comments on the draft rules may be submitted via email or mailed to:
SB409 RULES COMMENTS
DNRC – REMB
PO BOX 201601
HELENA MT 59620=1601
- Additionally, comments on the rules will be collected at two hearings
- December 6, 2011, at Hampton Inn – Kalispell, 1140 Hwy 2 West, Kalispell, Montana; and
- December 7, 2011, at Seeley Lake Community Hall, 3248 Highway 83, Seeley Lake, Montana.
- The schedule for both hearings will be the same
- 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. informal Q&A on the draft rules
- 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. the official hearing time
Hearings and the Q&A sessions are free and open to any interested member of the public.
In May 2010 the Land Board approved administrative rules that implemented Alternative 3B, as well as consolidated the rules for the cabinsite program under one primary set of rules. These 2010 rules are still in use and with a few exceptions, these 2010 rules will continue to be used to administer the cabinsite program. These 2010 rules may be found on the Secretary of State's web site, the rule numbers are 36.25.1001 – 36.25.1012.
Bioeconomics Report and CommentsSeptember 30, 2011
Bioeconomics, Inc., of Missoula, Montana has written a report examining the lease rate for Montana school trust land cabinsites. Economist John Duffield is the owner of BioEconomics, and conducted a similar cabinsite lease rate analysis in 1993.
The DNRC is taking comments on this current study for a 30-day period. Comments may be emailed or mailed to:
Lease Report Comments
DNRC – REMB
PO Box 201601
Helena, MT 59620-1601
May 17, 2011
Agency memo on the implementation of SB 409
May 12, 2011
The governor allowed SB 409 to become law without signing the bill.
SB 409 – Tutvedt - Revise methods to establish rental fees and sale of state land cabin sites.
- SB 409 - non-signing statement - cabin leases (pdf)
- Governor Schweitzer: Action on Bills Thursday, May 12
April 29, 2011
The Montana State Legislature passed Senate Bill 409 on April 19. SB409 may become law some time in early May. The DNRC will draft rules implementing SB409, with an expected rule adoption in early January 2012. Lessees will not see changes in their lease fees immediately as the new process will take some time to put into full effect. Once effective, a lessee must still choose to have the new methodology be applied to their lease - the change will not be automatic. To view the text of SB409, visit the legistative web site.
May 18, 2010
On May 17, 2010, the Land Board approved rules implementing the "Alternative 3B" cabinsite lease fee calculation methodology. The original rulemaking Proposal Notice and the Adoption Notice, as approved by the Land Board and filed with the Secretary of State's Office, may be viewed on DNRC's administrative rules page under "MAR 36-22-143 (Cabinsite Rules)."
The DNRC anticipates billing by May 28, 2010, the leases that have completed the five-year phase-in to 2003 values. To date, the "A" and "B" category leases have completed the phase-in. The May 28 bill will be for the amount determined by the new rules. Included with the bill will be a 2010 Supplemental Lease Agreement (2010 SLA) that lessees must sign and return to the department in order to be billed under the new rules. Those lessees that do not return the 2010 SLA will be charged rent determined according to the current "no-phase-in" methodology, 5% of the 2009 Department of Revenue appraised value. The current method will result in a higher 2010 lease payment for nearly all cabinsite lessees.
The "C," "D," and "E" category leases are still completing their five-year phase-in to 2003 values but will be mailed the 2010 SLA and have the opportunity to make lease payments based on the new rules once their phase-in is complete in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.
All lessees who have previously requested a semi-annual lease bill will receive their second half bill in early July, which is the regular billing cycle.
Related Documents
- Cabinsite Finding Notice (pdf – May 13, 2010)
- Cabinsite Comments (pdf – May 13, 2010)
- Alt. 3B FAQ Dec. 2009 (pdf)
- Cabinsite Lessee Comments (pdf – updated October 5, 2009)
- Cabinsite Lessee Comments (pdf – updated September 14, 2009)
- Initial Lessee Information Jun. 2009 (pdf)
May 13, 2010
DNRC has approved the Final Environmental Review (EA) for the proposed administrative rules implementing Alternative 3B.
Ten comments were received during the comment period on the draft EA held from April 5 to May 5, 2010.
April 21, 2010
All comments received from the rules hearings (Jan. and Feb. 2010), and the MEPA scoping (Mar. 2010) are now posted here on the cabinsite information page.
Also on that web page is a link to the completed draft Environmental Review (EA) and Finding Notice for the proposed administrative rules implementing Alternative 3B. Alternative 3B is DNRC's recommended alternative in the Finding Notice for the EA.
DNRC is soliciting comments on the draft EA. All cabinsite lessees were mailed notice of the EA posting on the DNRC web site and the comment solicitation. All comments will be considered before a decision is final. Comments must be submitted in writing by Wednesday, May 5, 2010. Send comments to: Attn: Cabinsite Rules MEPA Comments, PO Box 201601 Helena, MT 59620-1601.
Today an informational post card is being mailed to all cabinsite lessees describing the extension of the deadline to appeal the 2009 DOR appraised value to June 30, 2010.
At this time, the DNRC expects to present the draft rules to the Land Board for final approval at the May 17, 2010, land board meeting.
April 19, 2010
Comments from the Cabinsite Rules Comment Period, December 23, 2009 to February 11, 2010
Transcript of Rules Hearings, February 3 & 4, 2010
Comments from MEPA Scoping Period, February 19 to March 19, 2010
Part 1,
Part 2
Summary of Comments from
Scoping Meetings, March 2 & 4, 2010
April 6, 2010
DNRC completed a draft Environmental Review (EA) for the proposed administrative rules implementing Alternative 3B. Alternative 3B is DNRC's preferred alternative for adjusting the way lease fees are calculated for cabin sites on state trust land.
DNRC is soliciting comments on the draft EA. All comments will be considered before a decision is final. Comments must be submitted in writing by Wednesday, May 5, 2010. Send comments to: DNRC, Attn: Cabinsite Rules MEPA Comments, PO Box 201601, Helena, MT 59620.
To request a printed copy of the Draft EA, call 406-444-0518.
March 29, 2010
Since the late December 2009 mailing of the draft rules and an invitation to comment on the draft rules, the rules timeline has changed slightly.
It had been stated that the final rules draft would go before the land board for approval in March; however, at this time it seems likely the rules will go to the May 17, 2010 Land Board hearing to request approval.
The DNRC will inform residential leaseholders when the rules are going before the land board. The schedule and agenda for land board items may be found on the DNRC Meeting's page.
Two hearings were held in February to collect rules-specific comments. We received 70 email comments, 15 mailed comments, 28 verbal comments at the hearing in Seeley Lake on February 4, 2010 and 19 verbal comments from the Kalispell hearing on February 3, 2010.
On February 19, 2010, all lessees notified by mail that DNRC is completing an Environmental Assessment to analyze the environmental impacts of implementing the rules. In the same mailing lessees were notified of a 30-day scoping period and requested to provide their scoping comments on the potential impacts of the new rules on the human and natural environment. At scoping meetings in Missoula on March 2, 2010 and in Kalispell on March 4, 2010 the DNRC collected 42 and 48 comments respectively. At this time we have received 26 written comments.
The comment period for MEPA scoping comments ended on March 19, 2010.
The DNRC will put all comments on the web site, and will summarize and respond to comments as they relate to the draft rules and as scoping direction for the MEPA environmental review.
The MEPA document will be completed before the draft rules go to the land board for final approval. The public will have an opportunity to review and comment of the draft document.
December 23, 2009
On December 21, 2009, the land board approved a set of draft rules that will implement Alternative 3B and change the way the DNRC calculates annual lease fees.
The draft rules are available as part of the land board's December agenda item.
The DNRC is accepting written comments on these rules until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2010. Please submit Email comments, or Written comments may be mailed to: DNRC Cabinsite Rules, PO Box 201601, Helena MT 59620-1601.
Public hearings on the rules will be held in Kalispell and Seeley Lake.
Kalispell Red Lion, 20 North Main St, Tue. Wed. Feb. 3, 2010
6:00 to 6:50 – DNRC presentation and informal Q & A
7:00 to 8:30– Formal hearing collection of comments
Seeley Lake Community Hall, 3248 HWY 83, Thu. Feb. 4, 2010
6:00 to 6:50 – DNRC presentation and informal Q & A
7:00 to 8:30 – Formal hearing collection of comments
By the end of December the DNRC will mail a copy of the draft rules and information on providing comments to all cabinsite lessees.
November 17, 2009
Alternative 3B was one of five alternatives presented to the Land Board on October 19, 2009, to address the cabin and homesite issues. The Land Board has directed the DNRC to prepare a set of draft rules for the December 21, 2009, Land Board meeting to implement Alternative 3B. As the rules are developed lessees will have an opportunity to comment on them. This public comment period is anticipated to occur in early 2010.
The Alternative 3B FAQ document posted on this web page was prepared to provide everyone with standard terminology and to answer the most frequently asked questions so that lessees can make informed decisions.
The DNRC expects to update the lease fee calculations web page to allow lessees to type in their lease number and see anticipated lease payments under alternative 3B.
DNRC Cabin Site Report
Cabin Lease Report (All files are in PDF format)
Appendices
A. Lease Samples – Projected Rents
B. Duffield Report, 1993
C. Knipe and Knipe
D. 98-535 Opinion
E.
1. Rates of Return
2. Rents for Mobile Home Lots, RV Sites and Cabins
3. Seeley Lake Area Transfers
4. Values of Improvements and Leasehold Interests on Cabin Sites by Kalispell that are Currently Listed
5. Kalispell Area Transfers
F. Negotiating Rule Making
G. MCA and ARM
September 4, 2009
The DNRC sent a letter to each of the cabinsite lessees describing the lease fee calculation alternatives that will be presented to the Land Board as an informational item in its September 21 meeting. Included in this letter was the final DOR appraisal values for the leased lots and a calculation of lease fees for each lease as calculated under each alternative scenario. Here is an interactive web page of the lease fee calculations by alternative.
July 31, 2009
The DNRC has used lessee comments to develop two alternatives that change the way we calculate lease fees and we expect another option to be developed during August.
The alternatives will be sent out to all lessees for review in a letter at the end of August or early September. The alternatives will also be on this web page.
If you have thoughts on the alternatives after reviewing them in September you can send us an email.
We anticipate presenting the alternatives to the Land Board as an informational item at the September 21, 2009, meeting.
Then at the Land Board's October 19, 2009, meeting the alternatives would be presented again. The Land Board's September meeting will be informational though it's likely that the board will take final action on the matter at its October meeting.
The Land Board meeting schedule can be found on the meetings page.
July 10, 2009
An informational post card describing the current status of the cabin site alternatives process and directing people to this web page was mailed to all lessees July 9, 2009.
Additionally, a list serv for cabin site alternatives process information was developed.
All email, transcribed, and hand-written comments collected from cabin site lessees about the cabin site alternatives process have been compiled and are ready for viewing on this web page.
July 2, 2009
Thank you to all the cabin site lessees who took time to attend comment meetings last week in Seeley Lake and Kalispell. We had similar attendance in both locations: 105 in Seeley Lake and 107 in Kalispell.
We collected many comments at both meetings, and currently have 58 email comments that came in to our email address.
We are compiling those comments and expect to have them on this web page by mid-July.
Also, for faster communication we expect to start an email list-serv. The list-serv subscription will be free, and the DNRC will send out update notifications via e-mail to all lessees who sign-up on the list serv.
The Montana DNRC is currently evaluating its process for calculating lease fees.
All residential lease payments are based on appraised values developed by the Montana Department of Revenue (DOR). The DOR is now in the process of completing its current appraisal cycle. We expect to receive the final appraised values for DNRC residential lease lots this summer.
The DNRC recognizes that current appraised values, coupled with the economic downturn,has caused concern for some lessees, so as an agency we are making plans to address this situation. We areconducting an internal review to see if there are alternatives to the way we determine full market value for state cabin sites. We are also reviewing the situation with State Land Board staff.
As part of this reviewthe DNRC is hosting two public meetings to take comments from lessees as we go forward.
Seeley Lake Community Hall, 3248 HWY 83, Mon. June 22, 2009, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Kalispell Red Lion, 20 North Main St, Tue. June 23, 2009, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Written comments can be sent to dnrccabins2009@mt.gov from now until June 30, 2009.
