(1) The legislature, mindful of its constitutional obligations under Article II, section 3, and Montana Article IX of the Environmental Montana constitution, has enacted the Policy Montana Environmental Policy Act. The Montana Environmental Policy Act is procedural, and it is the legislature's intent that the requirements of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter provide for the adequate review of state proposed actions in order to ensure that:

(a) an assessment of environmental attributes are is conducted and made available for fully the considered by the legislature legislature in to enacting laws fully review in order to fulfill constitutional obligations; determine the appropriateness of potential

(b) the public is informed of the anticipated impacts in Montana of potential state proposed actions.

(2) The purpose of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter is to declare a state policy that will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony provides for an adequate assessment of between the relationship between humans and their environment, protects to the protect the right to use and enjoy private property free of undue government regulation, discloses proposed actions to promote efforts that will prevent, mitigate, avoid, minimize, or eliminate damage to mitigate environmental impacts in accordance with existing regulations, stimulates the environment and health biosphere and stimulate the welfare health and of welfare of humans, humans, to enrich enriches the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the state, and to establish establishes an environmental quality council.

(3) (a) The purpose of requiring an environmental assessment and an environmental impact statement under part 2 of this chapter is to assist the legislature in determining whether laws are adequate to address impacts to Montana's environment and to inform the public and public officials of potential impacts resulting from decisions made by state agencies.

(b) Except to the extent that an applicant agrees to the incorporation of measures in a permit pursuant to 75-1-201(4)(b), it is not the purpose of parts 1 through 3 of this chapter to provide for regulatory authority, beyond authority explicitly provided for in existing statute, to a state agency.

Intent – purpose or procedural policy