Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 82. MINERALS, OIL, AND GAS

CHAPTER 11. OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION

Part 1. Regulation by Board of Oil and Gas Conservation

Prohibited Activity -- Makoshika State Park

82-11-127. (Temporary) Prohibited activity -- Makoshika state park. (1) A person may not:

(a) cause pollution of any state waters or place or cause to be placed any liquid, gaseous, solid, or other substance in a location where the substance is likely to cause pollution of any state waters;

(b) violate any provision set forth in a permit or stipulation, including but not limited to limitations and conditions contained in it;

(c) violate an order issued pursuant to this chapter; or

(d) violate a provision of this chapter.

(2) A person may not drill, construct, convert, or operate a class II injection well or drill an oil or gas well or stratigraphic test well or core hole as described under 82-11-134 without a valid permit or order from the board.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (5), on lands managed as Makoshika state park, pursuant to Title 23, chapter 1, and under the control of the department of fish, wildlife, and parks, by grant, acquisition, lease, easement, or other means, a person may not:

(a) drill, construct, convert, or operate an oil or gas well, stratigraphic test well, or core hole;

(b) conduct vibroseis, drill a seismic shot hole, or set a surface charge;

(c) explore for oil or gas in a manner that damages the land surface; or

(d) construct or place any surface facility associated with oil or gas exploration or development.

(4) The prohibitions in subsection (3) do not preclude the development of oil or gas resources from beneath Makoshika state park through directional drilling or access from property outside the boundaries of the state park provided that the surface resources of the state park are not disturbed.

(5) The prohibitions listed in subsection (3) do not apply to oil or gas resources within Makoshika state park that are owned by a private person, nor do the prohibitions apply to school trust lands within the boundaries of the park. The state acknowledges the mineral rights of Dawson County and the state school trust and the private property rights of persons owning private mineral rights within Makoshika state park. The department of fish, wildlife, and parks is directed to conduct negotiations with the owners of mineral rights within Makoshika state park, with the purpose of acquiring those rights in the name of the state, and to report the results of the negotiations to the legislature no later than January 8, 2001.

82-11-127. (Effective on occurrence of contingency) Prohibited activity. (1) A person may not:

(a) cause pollution of any state waters or place or cause to be placed any liquid, gaseous, solid, or other substance in a location where the substance is likely to cause pollution of any state waters;

(b) violate any provision set forth in a permit or stipulation, including but not limited to limitations and conditions contained in it;

(c) violate an order issued pursuant to this chapter; or

(d) violate a provision of this chapter.

(2) A person may not drill, construct, convert, or operate a class II injection well or a carbon dioxide injection well or drill an oil or gas well or stratigraphic test well or core hole as described under 82-11-134 without a valid permit or order from the board.

History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 503, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 522, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 474, L. 2009.