State seeks public's view of gas pipeline sales

A “listening and public comment session” on NorthWestern Energy’s proposal to purchase Devon Energy’s natural gas production facilities on the Hi-Line will be held in Havre at 3:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, at the Eagles Club.

The hearing will allow people to ask questions of the Montana Public Service Commission, NorthWestern and Devon officials about the sale, said Travis Kavulla, R-Great Falls, who represents the Hi-Line on the five-member commission.

It will be less formal than the hearings held in Helena, where people will be sworn in for official testimony, he said.

Kavulla said he has heard “concerns and questions” about the sale from employees and landowners, but little outright opposition.

The hearing will give the companies a chance to air their views and the public the right to ask questions and express opinions.

In May, the companies announced the proposed sale that involves more than 1,000 producing wells in the Bear Paw Basin — Hill, Blaine and Chouteau counties, and Havre Transmission Co., which owns nearly 600 miles of pipeline that transport the gas. The PSC has no authority over the wells but can block the sale of the transmission pipelines, a key part of the whole deal.

Kavulla said when NorthWestern emerged from bankruptcy about 10 years ago, it agreed to fully own any subsidiary. Eighteen percent of the pipeline company is owned by other investors, he said. Kavulla said he has seen little opposition to approving that exemption.

The sale agreement states that if the PSC doesn’t approve the deal by the end of October, the transaction will be called off.

Kavulla said he thinks the PSC will meet that deadline.

The Havre session will enable people to listen and talk or just have some coffee, Kavulla said.