Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team -- Rulemaking

The oversight team shall adopt rules to administer the provisions of this part, including: (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.