Permits

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is America’s hallmark environmental law, requiring federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of their actions before granting use of federal lands for right-of-way or issuing permits. The North Plains Connector route crosses some federal lands (U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service) and is therefore subject to a federal environmental review under NEPA.

Montana’s MFSA process regulates the siting of long-distance transmission lines by establishing criteria for the avoidance and minimization of impacts to sensitive resources. The North Plains Connector’s MFSA application will describe the transmission facilities associated with North Plains Connector, outline the purpose of the project, provide an analysis of alternative routes, and describe potential environmental impacts related to project activities.