Environmental Documents

The Forestry and Trust Land Division of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is proposing to repeal surface management rules and adopt new rules addressing recreational use of trust land. The proposed changes are necessary to renumber recreational use rules for trust land into their own subsection to make rules easier to find and to simplify language throughout to make the rules easier to understand. The rulemaking broadly simplifies and organizes content for all rules pertaining to recreational use of trust land while retaining the intent of the original rules.

Triple derrick rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakkan Formation test, 31,088’ MD/10,450’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 23,014’ MD/10,470’ TVD.

The Anaconda Unit of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is proposing the Elk Trail Limited Access Timber Sale. The project is located approximately 6 miles southwest of Butte.

White Mountain Rig #252 to drill to 3050’ depth.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 26,003’ MD/10,021’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 25,825’ MD/10,021’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 25,881’ MD/10,021’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 26,143’ MD/10,021’ TVD.

On September 25, 2025, DNRC received an application from LHC, Inc. henceforth referred to as proponent, to test for aggregate on State of Montana School Trust Lands. The application was made for Township 22N, Range 3W, Section 16. This checklist analysis, in conjunction with the programmatic analysis, will evaluate the impacts of an action alternative and no action alternative. The issuance of an aggregate testing permit allows the proponent to dig holes between 3ft and 20 ft in depth to observe and test the aggregate resource present. The proponent will salvage and replace topsoil and reseed disturbed areas with an approved seed mix.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 25,984’ MD/10,102’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 25,914’ MD/10,102’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 26,097’ MD/10,102’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 26,536’ MD/10,102’ TVD.

Issue Temporary Road Use Permit for use of existing road, on State Trust Lands, for timber hauling.

Northwestern Energy has submitted an easement application to authorize the extension of a 1 phase 7,200/12,740V electric primary distribution line on State Trust Land located in T2S R1E Section 36. This extension will serve additional customers. This extension of power service will involve installation construction and require future maintenance on State Trust Land. The route is along N. Beartrap Canyon Road. The proposed easement is approximately 3,871.18 feet long by 30 feet wide, encompassing 2.67 acres.

The applicant proposes to construct a water transmission and appurtenant items through one State of Montana Trust tract in Valley County. The selected route across state lands is the most cost effective route for this project. This .18 acre easement consists of a strip of land 30' X 261' feet.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Conservation and Resource Development Division (CARDD) is issuing a Draft Environmental Assessment for the Pollinator Habitat Plantings Programmatic Project. The project proposes to use pollinator habitat funds to improve floral resources on the landscape, for foraging pollinators.

Attached is the Memo that has been filed that this LUL has been considered as a concurrent with the Easement for Glacier Peak Crude Oil Pipeline, which was approved by the land board last week. The memo increases the right of way from 35' to 50' to accommodate this LUL for the produced water line.

Ground based equipment operation within the SMZ to remove hazard trees threatening improvements.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single SWD Well to 10,760’MD/5537’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 22,828’ MD/10,465’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 22,650’ MD/10,468’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 22,601’ MD/10,461’ TVD.

Triple derrick drilling rig to drill a single lateral horizontal Bakken Formation test, 22,734’ MD/10,466’ TVD.

Temporary Road Use Permit (TRUP) to haul approximately 3,000 tons of sawlogs and other material on Snowmass Road.

The proponent, Triangle Telephone Cooperative Association, Inc. (TTCA, Inc.), is applying to extend a fiber optic telecommunications line located on the E ½ SW, SW ¼, SE ¼ of Section 16, Township 4 North, Range 23 East in Yellowstone County. The route will be placed along an existing MDT right of way. The easement will allow the proponent to offer state-of-the-art telecommunications toll and distribution facilities, as well as future growth capabilities for the community. The easement will encumber at total of ±1.36 acres of State Trust Land.

Equipment operation, sub merchantable tree removal, and cutting of additional trees in the SMZ to remove heavy fuel loading.