Montana Title 76. Land Resources and Use § 76-16-406. Transfer of grazing preferences

(1) Upon application by a permittee, the state district with the approval of the commission may allow a grazing preference based on ownership or control of dependent commensurate or commensurate property to be transferred to other property of sufficient commensurability. However, in any transfer of grazing preference from dependent commensurate or commensurate property controlled but not owned by the applicant, the applicant must have had control and use of the dependent commensurate or commensurate property and the grazing preference appurtenant to the property for 5 consecutive years and must have established and maintained the livestock operation upon which the dependency was established by use or priority immediately prior to the application for transfer.

(2) In addition, the transfer may not interfere with the stability of livestock operations or with proper range management and may not affect adversely the established local economy. A transfer may not be allowed without the written consent of the owner or owners of the dependent commensurate or commensurate property from which the transfer is to be made and the owner or owners of any encumbrances on the property. A transfer is not effective until approved by the commission.

(3) All expenses involved under the application must be borne by the applicant.