Montana Code 87-5-904. Montana sage grouse oversight team — rulemaking
87-5-904. Montana sage grouse oversight team — rulemaking. The oversight team shall adopt rules to administer the provisions of this part, including:
Terms Used In Montana Code 87-5-904
- Habitat quantification tool: means the scientific method used to evaluate vegetation and environmental conditions related to the quality and quantity of sage grouse habitat and to quantify and calculate the value of credits and debits. See Montana Code 87-5-903
- Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
- Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
- Oversight team: means the Montana sage grouse oversight team established in 2-15-243. See Montana Code 87-5-903
- Project developer: means an entity proposing an action that will result in a debit. See Montana Code 87-5-903
- Sage grouse: means the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). See Montana Code 87-5-903
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
(1)eligibility and evaluation criteria for grants distributed pursuant to 87-5-910 for projects that maintain, enhance, restore, expand, or benefit sage grouse habitat and populations, including but not limited to requirements for matching funds and in-kind contributions and consideration of the socioeconomic impacts of a proposed project on the local community. The evaluation criteria must give greater priority to proposed projects that:
(a)involve partnerships between public and private entities;
(b)provide matching funds;
(c)use the habitat quantification tool adopted pursuant to subsection (2); and
(d)maximize the amount of credits generated per dollars of funds awarded.
(2)the designation of a habitat quantification tool in consideration of applicable United States fish and wildlife service sage grouse policies, state law, and any rules adopted pursuant to this part;
(3)subject to the provisions of 87-5-905(2), a method to track and maintain the number of credits attributable to projects funded pursuant to this part that are available to a project developer to purchase for compensatory mitigation to offset debits under 87-5-911;
(4)methods of compensatory mitigation available under 87-5-911;
(5)review and monitoring of projects funded pursuant to this part;
(6)criteria for the acceptance or rejection of grants, gifts, transfers, bequests, and donations, including interests in real or personal property; and
(7)guidance on management options for any real property conveyed to the state under this part, including its sale or lease.