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Montana Land Board approves timber and property actions, authorizes mediation in Talon case
Summary
At its April 20, 2026 meeting in Helena the Montana Board of Land Commissioners approved multiple trust-land actions — timber sales, a preliminary cabin/homesite sale, easements and a reciprocal access agreement — authorized scoping and rulemaking, and directed the attorney general's office to participate in mediation in State of Montana v. Talon Northwestern Energy with authority to negotiate settlement terms subject to a future Board vote.
HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Board of Land Commissioners on April 20 approved a slate of routine trust-land actions and authorized participation in federal-court mediation in a dispute with Talon Northwestern Energy.
Amanda Kaster, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, presented the items covering timber sales (0426-1), a preliminary approval to sell a cabin and homesite (0426-2), easements (0426-3) and a reciprocal access agreement (0426-4). The board approved each item by voice vote; motions were made and seconded by board members and "carried unanimously," according to the meeting minutes. The minutes do not include detailed debate on those items.
The board also approved a request to initiate scoping (0426-5) and a request to initiate rulemaking (0426-6). Public comment was recorded for those two items: Rayleigh Honeycutt, representing the Montana Stock Growers Association, and Beckie Williams of American Prairie both spoke during the public-comment periods, but the transcript of the minutes does not record the substance of their remarks.
In a more substantive action, James Brown, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, moved that the board authorize the Montana Attorney General's Office and its designees to participate in a court-approved mediation conference in State of Montana v. Talon Northwestern Energy (case No. CV-00035-DLC, U.S. District Court). The motion, seconded by Susie Hedalen, gives the Attorney General's Office authority to negotiate terms concerning past-due rentals, rental rates and future lease terms on behalf of the board and requires that, if a settlement is reached, the matter be returned to the board for approval at a future public meeting after due notice for review and comment. The motion carried unanimously.
Brian Bramblett, DNRC chief legal counsel, presented the quarterly litigation update that preceded the mediation authorization. The minutes note no additional board discussion on the litigation item beyond the motion to authorize mediation.
All actions recorded in the minutes were approved by voice vote and are described as "carried unanimously." The minutes are draft and will become official upon Land Board approval at the next meeting; the board has adopted the audio recording of meetings as the official record under 2-3-212, MCA. Any settlement in the Talon matter would be brought back to the board for public notice and a future vote.
