3 Rivers Telephone Coop Inc. (3 Rivers) proposes to install a buried fiber optic cable located on state land, referred to herein as the “Project”. The proposed easement route is located parallel to W Pendroy Road in the SW4NW4 and NW4NW4 of Section 16, T27N, R8W and would result in approximately 488.1334 square feet of soil disturbance and 0.2241 acres for the easement area. The fiber optic cable will enter state-owned land on the northwest corner of the SW4NW4 and continue northeasterly along W Pendroy Road where it will terminate at an existing permitted handhole in the NW4NW4. See Exhibit A, Easement Survey Map, and Exhibit B, Project Location Map. Installation of the fiber optic cable will provide in-home access to telephony, high-speed data, and broadband services for rural Montana residents.