85-2-906. Ground water characterization program -- ground water monitoring program. (1) There is a ground water characterization program and a ground water monitoring program.

(2) Subject to the direction of the ground water assessment steering committee, the Montana bureau of mines and geology shall establish and administer the ground water characterization program and the ground water monitoring program.

(3) The Montana bureau of mines and geology shall work with units of local government, ground water users, and other affected organizations and individuals in areas of the state that are included in a ground water characterization study and, if warranted by the level of local interest in a ground water characterization study, shall establish a local ground water assessment advisory committee.

(4) The ground water assessment steering committee created by 2-15-1523 shall:

(a) oversee expenditures from the ground water assessment account and organization plans and work plans proposed by the Montana bureau of mines and geology to implement the ground water characterization and ground water monitoring programs, including plans for local involvement and participation in ground water characterization studies;

(b) approve ground water monitoring sites;

(c) prioritize and select ground water characterization study areas;

(d) develop plans for ground water information management and dissemination;

(e) develop plans for integrating existing ground water information with information collected under the programs created by subsection (1);

(f) coordinate ground water information collection projects sponsored by individual units of state, federal, or local government with the programs created by subsection (1); and

(g) evaluate reports and other information produced by the Montana bureau of mines and geology from ground water characterization studies.

(5) The ground water assessment steering committee shall invite representatives of local governments and Indian tribes with jurisdiction over areas of the state that are included in an active ground water characterization study or in a study scheduled to begin in the ensuing biennium, as well as affected citizens in these areas, to participate in steering committee meetings.