90-4-405. Council members to hold public hearings in areas affected by acquisition of major resources. (1) Whenever the northwest conservation and electric power plan or any amendment to the plan calls for the acquisition of major resources, as defined in 16 U.S.C. 839a, from an area of Montana east of the continental divide, the Montana council members shall hold at least one public hearing in the geographic area from which the major resources are proposed to be acquired and that will be affected by the proposed acquisition.

(2) The Montana council members shall request the participation of the other members of the council in conducting the public hearing required under subsection (1).

(3) The Montana council members shall give notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the proposed acquisition of major resources at least 2 weeks before the public hearing required by subsection (1). The public hearing must be held at least 30 days before any final decision is made to incorporate into the plan the acquisition of major resources from the affected area.