The bill proposes to exempt the review of certain subdivision applications and water or sewer plans from environmental review requirements under Title 75, chapter 1, parts 1 and 2. Specifically, it allows the department to bypass these provisions when reviewing water or sewer system plans. Additionally, the bill amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to delegate the review of small public water and sewer systems to local governments, provided they have established satisfactory review programs. The amendments also clarify that local departments or boards of health may not review public water supply systems or public sewage systems unless they are certified by the department.

Key changes include the deletion of the requirement for compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act during the review process, which streamlines the approval process for subdivisions. The bill also introduces new provisions for independent reviewers, allowing them to conduct reviews if certified by the department, while ensuring that they adhere to conflict of interest guidelines. Overall, the legislation aims to simplify the review process for local governments and independent reviewers, thereby facilitating the development of subdivisions and related infrastructure.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_1(1): 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_1(2): 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_1(3): 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_1(4): 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_1(5): 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_1(6): 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_1: 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_X(1): 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_X(2): 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_X(3): 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_X(4): 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136
SB0262_X: 75-6-121, 76-4-104, 76-4-136