ARM 17.20.1604. LINEAR FACILITIES, PUBLIC INTEREST STANDARD

(1) The department must find that a proposed facility will serve the public interest, as required by 75-20-301, MCA, based on a determination of the following: (a) the findings required by ARM 17.20.1606; (b) the cumulative environmental impacts of the facility, as determined for ARM 17.20.1607(1)(g); (c) the benefits to the applicant, the state of Montana, the applicant's customers, and any other entities benefitting from the facility; (i) benefits include internal benefits and external benefits; nonmonetary benefits must be quantified to the extent reasonably possible. (d) the effects of the economic activity resulting from the proposed facility; (e) the costs of the facility including internal costs of construction and operation and mitigation costs, plus other external costs and unmitigated environmental costs; nonmonetary costs must be quantified to the extent reasonably possible; and (f) any other factors the department considers relevant. (2) In making this finding the department shall consider the effects of the facility on the public health, welfare and safety.