Montana Title 77. State Lands § 77-4-210. Joint development with United States

(1) If the state land constituting a power site is part of a larger power site owned or controlled by the government of the United States, then the board may grant a joint lease or license with the United States for the development of the power site and the distribution, use, and disposition of the electrical energy generated at the power site under the laws of the United States and regulations issued pursuant to those laws.

(2) The lease or license may be granted for a term not exceeding 50 years.

(3) The share or percentage of ownership of the state in the joint power site must be in proportion to the total contribution that the lands of the state make to the value of the entire power site. Before the share of the state in the power site is advertised for lease or license, the percentage of the state's share in the entire power site must be calculated and agreed upon between the state and the United States.

(4) The fee or compensation to be paid to the state under the lease or license must be calculated on the basis of the state's share of ownership in the entire power site as calculated and agreed to. However, the fee or compensation may not be less than the full market value of the estate or interest disposed of in the lands through the granting of the lease or license to be carefully ascertained from all available sources.

(5) Before the lease or license is issued, notice of the lease or license must be given in the same manner as required in this chapter for the issuance of a separate lease or license by the state.