87-1-241. Acquisition of wildlife habitat -- rules. - Montana Statutes

     87-1-241. Acquisition of wildlife habitat -- rules. (1) Before acquisition of any interest in land for the primary purpose of securing wildlife habitat the commission shall by rule establish a policy for making such acquisitions. With regard to any specific acquisition the policy shall provide for a comprehensive analysis of:
     (a) the wildlife populations and use currently associated with the property;
     (b) the potential value of the land for protection, preservation, and propagation of wildlife;
     (c) management goals proposed for the land and wildlife populations, and where feasible, any additional uses of the land such as livestock grazing or timber harvest;
     (d) any potential impacts to adjacent private land resulting from proposed management goals, and plans to address such impacts;
     (e) any significant potential social and economic impacts to affected local governments and the state, including but not limited to impacts on:
     (i) tax revenue available for the operation of taxing jurisdictions within the county;
     (ii) services required to be provided by local governments;
     (iii) employment opportunities within the counties;
     (iv) local schools; and
     (v) private businesses supplying goods and services to the community;
     (f) a land maintenance program to control weeds and maintain roads and fences; and
     (g) any other matter considered necessary or appropriate by the commission.
     (2) The analysis made of any proposed acquisition must be made available for review by each owner of land adjacent to the property that is the subject of analysis, and to any member of the public. A public hearing must be held in the affected area after the analysis has been made available to the public.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 598, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 515, L. 1989.