85-20-1504. Blackfeet Tribe water rights compact mitigation account -- use. - Montana Statutes

     85-20-1504. Blackfeet Tribe water rights compact mitigation account -- use. (1) There is an account within the state special revenue fund called the Blackfeet Tribe water rights compact mitigation account. The department shall administer the account. Up to $650,000 each fiscal year of interest and earnings on the account must be deposited in the account.
     (2) The Blackfeet Tribe water rights compact mitigation account may be used only for:
     (a) expenditures for grants to or matching funds for federal or other grants to water right holders under state law for water from Birch Creek, Badger Creek, Cut Bank Creek, the Two Medicine River, and the portion of the Milk River within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation for projects approved by the department to enhance water availability or otherwise mitigate the economic and hydrologic impacts on water right holders under state law caused by the development of the Blackfeet Tribe's water rights under a water rights compact pursuant to 85-2-702 quantifying the water rights of the Blackfeet Tribe; and
     (b) implementation of the water rights compact among the Blackfeet Tribe, the state, and the United States and any associated agreements as may be specified in the compact or agreements.
     (3) (a) The department may expend up to $500,000 of the account to conduct preliminary feasibility studies and an associated environmental review for water compact purposes.
     (b) The department may expend up to $650,000 each fiscal year of the interest and income on the escrow account provided for in subsection (4)(b) for the purposes described in subsection (2)(b).
     (4) (a) At least $4.5 million of this account must be dedicated to mitigate impacts on water right holders under state law for use of water out of Birch Creek.
     (b) The amount of $10 million in this account must be held in escrow. The department shall negotiate the terms of an escrow agreement.
     (5) Except as provided in subsection (3), funds from this account may not be disbursed unless a water rights compact among the Blackfeet Tribe, the state, and the United States has been finally ratified by the legislature, the Congress of the United States, and the Blackfeet Tribe.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 489, L. 2007.