_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING NATURAL RESOURCE LAWS; CREATING NATURAL resource-related INVESTIGATION PROGRAMS; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; and providing AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Hydrocarbon and geology investigation program -- purpose -- grants. (1) The bureau of mines and geology shall establish a hydrocarbon and geology investigation program to determine the existence of oil and gas deposits in the state. The purposes of the program are to determine if new methods of oil and gas production will improve production in existing oil and gas fields and to locate new fields containing oil and gas resources.

(2) In prioritizing areas to investigate, the bureau of mines and geology shall first consider counties where there exists historical evidence of oil and gas production, including the counties of Blaine, Carter, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Glacier, Hill, Liberty, McCone, Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, and Yellowstone.

(3) The bureau of mines and geology may start an investigation when it has sufficient funds to conduct an investigation or in other circumstances the bureau determines appropriate.

(4) (a) Within 1 year of starting an investigation, the bureau of mines and geology shall present the results of the investigation in the form of maps and text to:

(i) the counties included in the investigation;

(ii) the economic affairs interim committee; and

(iii) the environmental quality council.

(b) After the establishment of the program, the bureau of mines and geology shall report to the legislature in accordance with 5-11-210.

(5) (a) To fulfill the requirements of subsections (1) and (2), the bureau of mines and geology may provide grants to faculty or students of any institution of higher education in the state in the areas of geology, geohydrology, civil engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, mining engineering, and petroleum engineering.

(b) The bureau of mines and geology shall provide notice of available grants to all institutions of higher education in the state and post notice on its website.

(c) Grant recipients pursuant to this subsection (5) shall report progress to the bureau of mines and geology at least twice a year in a manner determined by the bureau.

(6) The bureau of mines and geology may accept appropriations, gifts, grants, and reimbursements to be used for the purposes of this section.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Coal ash markets investigation program. (1) The department of commerce shall establish a coal ash markets investigation program to determine the existence of economically viable markets to reuse coal ash.

(2) The department may start an investigation when it has sufficient funds to conduct an investigation or in other circumstances the department determines appropriate.

(3) (a) Within 1 year of starting an investigation, the bureau of mines and geology shall present the results of the investigation in the form of maps and text to:

(i) the economic interim affairs committee; and

(ii) the environmental quality council.

(b) After the establishment of the program, the department shall report to the legislature in accordance with 5-11-210.

(4) The department may accept appropriations, gifts, grants, and reimbursements to be used for the purposes of this section.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Appropriations. There is appropriated from the general fund for the biennium beginning July 1, 2021:

(1) $20,000 to the bureau of mines and geology for the purposes of [section 1]; and

(2) $25,000 to the department of commerce for the purposes of [section 2].

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 90, chapter 2, and the provisions of Title 90, chapter 2, apply to [sections 1 and 2].

NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2021.