Montana Title 82. Minerals, Oil, and Gas § 82-10-503. Notice of drilling operations

(1) In addition to the requirements for geophysical exploration activities governed by Title 82, chapter 1, part 1, the oil and gas developer or operator shall give the surface owner and any purchaser under contract for deed written notice of the drilling operations that the oil and gas developer or operator plans to undertake. The notice must be given to the record surface owner and any purchaser under contract for deed at their addresses as shown by the records of the county clerk and recorder at the time the notice is given. The notice must include a copy of this part and, if available, a current publication produced by the environmental quality council entitled “A Guide to Split Estates in Oil and Gas Development”. The notice must sufficiently disclose the plan of work and operations to enable the surface owner to evaluate the effect of drilling operations on the surface owner's use of the property. The notice must be given no more than 180 days and no fewer than 20 days before any activity that disturbs the land surface. The surface owner may waive the notice requirement.

(2) The surface owner is responsible for providing the name and address of the oil and gas developer or operator to any lessees, tenants, or other parties responsible for surface operations on the property.

(3) Prior to the oil and gas developer or operator providing the notice required in subsection (1), a person qualified under 70-16-111 may enter the land to investigate and use boundary evidence and perform boundary, well site location, and access road surveys if the notice requirements of 70-16-111 are met. However, the oil and gas developer or operator shall provide the notice required pursuant to subsection (1) prior to any activity that disturbs the land surface.