Montana Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers § 69-13-103. Right to construct pipelines

(1) The right to lay, maintain, and operate pipelines, together with telegraph and telephone lines incidental to and designed for use only in connection with the operation of such lines, or along, across, or under any public stream or highway in this state is hereby conferred upon all persons, firms, limited partnerships, joint-stock associations, or corporations coming within any of the definitions of common carrier pipelines as hereinbefore made. This right to run along, across, or over any public road or highway, as provided for, can only be exercised upon condition that the traffic thereon not be interfered with and that such road or highway be promptly restored to its former condition of usefulness. The restoration of the road or highway is subject also to the supervision of the county commissioners of the county in which said highway is situated.

(2) Any person, firm, limited partnership, joint-stock association, or corporation may acquire the right to construct pipelines and such incidental telephone and telegraph lines along, across, or over any public road or highway in this state by filing with the commission an acceptance of the provisions of this law, expressly agreeing in writing that in consideration of the right so acquired, it shall be and become a common carrier pipeline, subject to the duties and obligations conferred or imposed in this chapter. In the exercise of the privileges herein conferred, such pipelines shall compensate the county for any damage done to such public road in the laying of pipelines or telegraph or telephone lines along or across the same. Nothing herein shall be construed to grant any pipeline company the right to use any public street or alley in any incorporated city or town except by express permission from the city or governing authority thereof.