Montana Title 82. Minerals, Oil, and Gas § 82-4-306. Confidentiality of application information

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), the information obtained by the department from applications for exploration licenses and the information obtained from small miners is confidential between the department and the applicant, except for the name of the applicant and the county of proposed operation. However, all activities conducted subsequent to exploration and other associated facilities are public information and must be conducted under an operating permit.

(2) Any information referenced in subsection (1) is properly admissible in any hearing conducted by the department or in any judicial proceeding to which the director and the applicant are parties and is not confidential when a violation of this part or rules adopted under this part has been determined by the department or by judicial order.

(3) The department may disclose information obtained by the department from exploration license applications and from small miners and that is related to the exploration or mining on state and federal lands when the information identifies the location of exploration and mining activities and describes the surface disturbance that is occurring or projected to occur. The department may not disclose a licensee's or small miner's proprietary geological information.

(4) Failure to comply with the secrecy provisions of this part is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.