Bill > HB76

This bill eliminates the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's (DNRC) authority to remove obstructions in floodways and abolishes the associated obstruction permit fee and the Floodway Obstruction Removal Fund. It amends existing laws to remove references to the department's power to order the removal of obstructions and to eliminate the requirement for an application fee for permits related to obstructions or uses in designated floodplains or floodways. The bill also repeals sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) that specifically grant the DNRC powers regarding obstructions and establish the Floodway Obstruction Removal Fund, and it makes changes to how notice is provided to landowners regarding orders affecting their property adjacent to watercourses or drainways, ensuring notice is given at least 10 days before a hearing or the order's effective date.