Major Facility Siting Program

Future Projects

An application to DEQ is being prepared for the Keystone-XL Pipeline, a 36-inch oil pipeline in eastern Montana. More information can be found at http:www.transcanada.com/keystone/kxl.html.

An Application to the Federal Energy regulatory commission is being prepared for the Pathfinder Pipeline a 42-inch natural gas pipeline crossing about 95 miles of southeastern Montana. See http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/gen-info/horizon-pipe.pdf.

Current Projects

On July 8, 2008 DEQ posted the first part of the application for the Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI), a 500kV line from south of Townsend to Southern Idaho. As NorthWestern Energy submits electronic versions of the application, they will be posted at the following site. Application and maps. More information about the project can be found at: http://www.msti500kv.com

Montana Alberta Tie 230 kV Transmission Line

Bonneville Power Administration - Libby/Troy Rebuild

Montanore Transmission Lines

Approved Projects

Western Area Power Administration - Havre/Rainbow Rebuild Final Conclusions and Determination of Substantive Compliance with Montana Major Facility Siting Act

Regulated Activities

A certificate of compliance may be required from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for certain major pipelines and electric transmission lines. Exploration for geothermal resources is also regulated. Associated facilities such as transportation links, pump stations and other facilities associated with the delivery of energy are included. Federally owned or controlled facilities must satisfy the substantive criteria of the Major Facility Siting Act (MFSA). There are special procedures that apply for facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. A person who proposes to construct an energy-related project that is not defined as a facility under MFSA may petition DEQ to review the project under MFSA.

The legislature found that the construction of additional lines, pipelines, and geothermal facilities may be necessary to meet the increasing need for electricity, energy, and other products; that it is necessary to ensure that the location, construction, and operation of covered facilities are in compliance with state law; and that a covered facility may not be constructed or operated within Montana without a certificate of compliance acquired pursuant to MFSA. The legislature also found the purposes of MFSA are to: ensure the protection of the state's environmental resources; ensure the consideration of socioeconomic impacts; provide citizens with an opportunity to participate in facility siting decisions; and establish a coordinated and efficient method for the processing of all authorizations required for regulated facilities.

Timelines for review are indicated in figure 1.

In general, electrical transmission lines greater than 69 kV may be covered under MFSA if they meet certain criteria. Electrical transmission lines of 230 kV or more and 10 miles or more in length are covered under MFSA unless certain criteria are met. Coal slurry pipelines with inside diameters of at least 17 inches that are at least 30 miles long are regulated by MFSA. Pipelines greater than 25 inches in inside diameter that are at least 50 miles long may be covered under MFSA if they meet certain criteria. Nuclear energy conversion facilities also are regulated under MFSA.

Application Requirements

An applicant for a certificate under the Montana Major Facility Siting Act (MFSA) must file an application with the DEQ. Facilities covered by MFSA are listed in 75-20-104(8), MCA. Information concerning the need for the transmission line or pipeline, the proposed location, baseline data and reasonable alternate locations must be included in the application. See 75-20-211, MCA, ARM Title 17 - Chapter 20 ,Circular 1 and Circular 2 for details.

Statute: Montana Major Facility Siting Act, 75-20-101 et seq., MCA

Department of Environmental Quality