_____________ bill NO. _____________
INTRODUCED
BY _________________________________________________
By Request of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Office of Budget and Program Planning
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RENEWABLE RESOURCE GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM; APPROPRIATING MONEY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION FOR GRANTS UNDER THE RENEWABLE RESOURCE GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM; PRIORITIZING PROJECT GRANTS AND AMOUNTS; ESTABLISHING CONDITIONS FOR GRANTS; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Appropriations for renewable resource grants. (1) For the biennium beginning July 1, 2021, there is appropriated to the department of natural resources and conservation from the natural resources projects state special revenue account established in 15-38-302 up to:
(a) $100,000 for emergency projects grants to be awarded by the department over the course of the biennium;
(b) $1,000,000 for planning grants to be awarded by the department over the course of the biennium;
(c) $300,000 for irrigation development grants to be awarded by the department over the course of the biennium;
(d) $300,000 for watershed grants to be awarded by the department over the course of the biennium; and
(e) $100,000 for private grants to be awarded by the department over the course of the biennium.
(2) The amount of $4,500,000 is appropriated to the department of natural resources and conservation from the natural resources projects state special revenue account established in 15-38-302 for the biennium beginning July 1, 2021. The funds referred to in this subsection must be awarded by the department to the named entities for the described purposes and in the grant amounts listed in subsection (4), subject to the conditions set forth in [sections 2 and 3] and the contingencies described in the renewable resource grant and loan program January 2021 report to the 67th legislature titled: Governor’s Executive Budget Fiscal Years 2021-2023 Volume 6.
(3) Funds must be awarded up to the amounts approved in subsection (4) in the following listed order of priority until available funds are expended. Funds not accepted or used by higher-ranked projects must be provided for projects farther down the priority list that would not otherwise receive funding. If at any time a grant sponsor determines that a project will not begin before June 30, 2023, the sponsor shall notify the department of natural resources and conservation. After all eligible projects are funded, remaining funds may be used for any renewable resource project authorized under this section.
(4) The following are the prioritized grant projects:
RENEWABLE RESOURCE GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM
Milk River Joint Board of Control
(St. Mary Diversion Dam and Headworks Design Completion) $125,000
Gardiner Park County Water and Sewer District
(Wastewater System Improvements) $125,000
Greenfields Irrigation District
(Arnold Coulee Hydroelectric Project) $125,000
Cooke City Water and Sewer District
(Wastewater Collection and Treatment System Project) $125,000
Fort Smith Water and Sewer District
(Wastewater System Improvements) $125,000
Montana Department of Corrections
(Powell Dam Rehabilitation) $125,000
Lewis and Clark Conservation District
(Beaver Creek Restoration, Phase 2) $125,000
Lockwood Water and Sewer District
(CS3-1 Collection System Improvements, Phase 3) $125,000
Manhattan, Town of
(Water Reclamation Facility Improvements, Phase 1) $125,000
Helena Valley Irrigation District
(Terminal Wasteway and Lateral Automation and Measurement) $125,000
Thompson Falls, City of
(Wastewater System Improvements, Phase 3) $125,000
Butte-Silver Bow Government
(Basin Creek Dam #1 Rehabilitation) $125,000
Deer Lodge, City of
(Wastewater Collection System Improvement) $125,000
Pondera County Conservation District
(Dupuyer Creek Diversion Automation) $125,000
Teton Conservation District
(Eureka Dam Safety Improvements) $125,000
Darby, Town of
(Wastewater System Improvements) $125,000
Libby, City of
(Wastewater System Improvements) $125,000
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation – Water Resources Division
(Ackley Lake Outlet Canal Rehabilitation) $125,000
Greenfields Irrigation District
(SRS-71 Headworks and SRS Re-Regulation) $125,000
Valier, Town of
(Wastewater System Improvements, Phase 3) $125,000
Greenfields Irrigation District
(Spring Coulee Headworks Replacement) $125,000
Helena Valley Irrigation District
(Lateral 11.9 Canal Conversion and Gate Rehabilitation) $125,000
Big Mountain County Sewer District
(Wastewater Collection System Improvements) $125,000
Lower Musselshell County Conservation District
(DMWUA Main Canal Diversion Gate Automation) $125,000
Bitterroot Conservation District
(Bitterroot River Irrigation Management Study) $125,000
Wolf Point, City of
(Wastewater Collection System Improvements) $125,000
Havre, City of
(Clear Creek Court-Sanitary Sewer System Improvements) $125,000
Missoula, City of
(Rattlesnake Creek Wilderness Dams Project) $125,000
Missoula County
(Buena Vista Wastewater System Improvements, Phase 2) $125,000
Fort Belknap Indian Community
(Milk River Diversion Gate Automation) $125,000
Shelby, City of
(Water Infrastructure System Improvements) $125,000
Fort Peck Tribes
(Frazer and Wiota Pump Automation and Monitoring) $125,000
Lower Willow Creek Irrigation District
(Lower Willow Creek Reservoir Toe Drain Repair) $125,000
Hill County
(Beaver Creek Dam Improvements) $125,000
East Helena, City of
(Wastewater System Improvements) $125,000
Bitter Root Irrigation District
(Water Efficiency, Modernization and Planning Study) $125,000
Beaverhead Conservation District
(Irrigation Efficiency and Water Measurement) $125,000
Stillwater Conservation District
(Mendenhall Ditch Intake and Drop Structure Rehabilitation) $125,000
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation – Water Resources Division
(Deadman’s Supply Canal Rehabilitation, Phase 2) $125,000
Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project
(Later V Check Structure and Lateral W Headgate Rehabilitation) $125,000
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation – Water Resources Division
(Two Dot Canal Rehabilitation) $125,000
Circle, Town of
(Water System Improvements, Phase 3) $125,000
Roundup, City of
(Water Main Improvements, Phase 6) $125,000
Clinton Irrigation District
(Schoolhouse Lateral Pipeline Conversion) $125,000
Tenmile Creek Estates/Pleasant Valley Water and Sewer District
(Wastewater System Improvements) $125,000
Carbon County Conservation District
(Mutual Ditch Siphon Replacement) $125,000
Ekalaka, Town of
(Water System Improvements) $125,000
Glen Lake Irrigation District
(Rolling Hills Canal Rehabilitation) $125,000
Buffalo Rapids Irrigation Project District 1
(BRIPD1 Irrigation System Automation) $125,000
Flaxville, Town of
(Water System Improvements) $125,000
North Valley County Water and Sewer District
(Water System Improvements, Phase 1) $125,000
Buffalo Rapids Irrigation Project District 2
(BRIPD2 Lateral 1.6 Pipeline Conversion, Phase 2) $125,000
Petroleum County Conservation District
(Petrolia Dam Outlet Works Headgate Replacement) $105,742
Harlowton, City of
(Water System Improvements, Phase 5) $125,000
Alfalfa Valley Irrigation District
(East Flynn Canal Rehabilitation, Phase 2) $125,000
Malta Irrigation District
(Main Canal Lining – Wagner Ranch) $125,000
Glasgow Irrigation District
(Spaniard Check Structure) $125,000
Lewistown, City of
(Water System Improvements) $125,000
Glen Lake Irrigation District
(Infrastructure Modernization Study) $125,000
Big Timber, City of
(Water System Improvements) $125,000
Alberton, Town of
(Water System Improvements) $125,000
Hysham Irrigation District
(Intake Improvements) $125,000
Three Forks, City of
(Water System Improvements) $125,000
Choteau, City of
(Water System Improvements) $125,000
Fairfield, Town of
(Water System Improvements) $125,000
Huntley Project Irrigation District
(Yellowstone River Bank Stabilization) $125,000
Sweet Grass County Conservation District
(Post-Kellogg Ditch Headworks Improvement) $125,000
Lewistown, City of
(Ditch Rehabilitation) $125,000
Joliet, Town of
(Water System Improvements) $125,000
Richey, Town of
(Water System Improvements, Phase 1) $125,000
Fort Benton, City of
(Water System Improvements) $125,000
Big Sandy, Town of
(Stormwater System Improvements) $125,000
Belgrade School District
(Ridge View Elementary Solar Project) $115,046
Paradise Valley Irrigation District
(Milk Riverbank Stabilization) $125,000
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Coordination of fund sources for grants to political subdivisions and local governments. A project sponsor listed under [section 1(4)] may not receive funds from both the reclamation and development grants program and the renewable resource grant and loan program for the same project during the same biennium.
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Condition of grants. Disbursement of funds under [section 1] is subject to the following conditions that must be met by the project sponsor:
(1) A scope of work and budget for the project must be approved by the department of natural resources and conservation. Any changes in scope of work or budget subsequent to legislative approval may not change project goals and objectives. Changes in activities that would reduce the public or natural resource benefits as presented in department of natural resources and conservation reports and applicant testimony to the 67th legislature may result in a proportional reduction in the grant amount.
(2) The project sponsor shall show satisfactory completion of conditions described in the recommendation section of the project narrative of the program report to the legislature for the biennium ending June 30, 2023, or, in the case of planning grants issued under [section 1(1)], completion of conditions specified at the time of written notification of approved grant authority.
(3) The project sponsor must have a fully executed grant agreement with the department.
(4) Any other specific requirements considered necessary by the department must be met to accomplish the purpose of the grant as evidenced from the application to the department or from the proposal as presented to the legislature.
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Appropriations established. There is appropriated to any entity of state government that receives a grant under [section 1] the amount of the grant upon award of the grant by the department of natural resources and conservation. Grants to entities from prior bienniums are reauthorized for completion of contract work.
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Approval of grants -- completion of biennial appropriation. The legislature, pursuant to 85-1-605, approves the renewable resource programs grants listed in [section 1]. The authorization of these grants constitutes a biennial appropriation from the natural resources projects state special revenue account established in 15-38-302.
NEW SECTION. Section 6. Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a copy of [this act] to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.
Coordination SECTION. Section 7. Coordination instruction. If both [this act] and an act that provides additional funding for renewable resource grant and loan program grants from a source other than the natural resources projects state special revenue account established in 15-38-302 are passed and approved, the projects listed in [section 1(4) of this act] that do not receive funding from the appropriations in [section 1(2) of this act] may receive funding from the appropriation in the other act designated for renewable resource grant and loan program grants in the order of completion of the conditions of [section 3 of this act] and to the extent that there is appropriation authority available.
NEW SECTION. Section 8. Severability. If a part of [this act] is invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain in effect. If a part of [this act] is invalid in one or more of its applications, the part remains in effect in all valid applications that are severable from the invalid applications.
NEW SECTION. Section 9. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2021.