BEFORE THE BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 17.24.1109 pertaining to bonding letters of credit

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NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT   (MONTANA STRIP AND UNDERGROUND MINE RECLAMATION ACT)   NO PUBLIC HEARING CONTEMPLATED

 

            TO:  All Concerned Persons

 

            1.  On January 25, 2010, the Board of Environmental Review proposes to amend the above-stated rule.

 

            2.  The board will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this rulemaking process and need an alternative accessible format of this notice.  If you require an accommodation, contact Elois Johnson, Paralegal, no later than 5:00 p.m., January 4, 2010, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation you need.  Please contact Elois Johnson at Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901; phone (406) 444-2630; fax (406) 444-4386; or e-mail ejohnson@mt.gov.

 

            3.  The rule proposed to be amended provides as follows, stricken matter interlined, new matter underlined:

 

            17.24.1109  BONDING:  LETTERS OF CREDIT  (1)  Letters of credit are subject to the following conditions:

            (a) through (e)(ii) remain the same.

            (iii)  capital or stockholders' equity must be at least 5.5% of total assets ((total stockholders' equity [shareholders equity capital stock + capital surplus + retained earnings])/total assets = 0.055 or more).

            (f)  Under a general financial health category, from either Sheshunoff Information Services, Moody's (Mergent Ratings Service) or Standard and Poor's, the bank must have a b+ or better rating for the current and previous two quarters.

            (g) through (j)(iii) remain the same, but are renumbered (f) through (i)(iii).

 

            AUTH:  82-4-204, MCA

            IMP:  82-4-223, 82-4-232, 82-4-235, MCA

 

            REASON:  In (1)(e)(iii), the proposed amendment substitutes "capital stock" for "shareholders equity" to tailor the definition of "total stockholders' equity" to the banking industry.  According to the Division of Banking and Financial Institutions of the Montana Department of Administration, the current definition is in error; capital stock, capital surplus, and retained earnings are the components of stockholders' equity usually reflected on the balance sheet of a bank.

            The proposed amendment deletes the criterion to evaluate the financial strength of a bank issuing a letter of credit set forth in (1)(f).  Use of this criterion has proved difficult for a number of reasons.  First, the credit rating agencies that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission considers as reliable and credible, such as those currently listed in (1)(f), change over time.  For example, Sheshunoff Information Services no longer provides ratings and additional credit rating agencies not listed in (1)(f) have been recognized by the SEC.  In addition, not all credit rating agencies use the rating scale that includes the b+ rating referred to in this provision. Finally, the credit rating agencies rate national banks, not state chartered banks.  Thus, (1)(f) precludes acceptance of letters of credit issued by state chartered banks.

            The remaining three criteria set forth in (1)(e) are sufficient to assess the financial strength of a bank for the purpose of determining whether to accept a letter of credit issued by the bank.  The proposed amendment is made in consultation with the Division of Bank and Financial Institutions of the Montana Department of Administration.

 

            4.  Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments concerning the proposed action in writing to Elois Johnson at Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901; phone (406) 444-2630; fax (406) 444-4386; or e-mail ejohnson@mt.gov, no later than January 21, 2010.  To be guaranteed consideration, mailed comments must be postmarked on or before that date.

 

            5.  If persons who are directly affected by the proposed action wish to express their data, views, or arguments orally or in writing at a public hearing, they must make written request for a hearing and submit this request along with any written comments they have to Elois Johnson at Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901; phone (406) 444-2630; fax (406) 444-4386; or e-mail ejohnson@mt.gov, no later than January 21, 2010.

 

            6.  If the board or department receives requests for a public hearing on the proposed action from either 10% or 25, whichever is less, of the persons who are directly affected by the proposed action; from the appropriate administrative rule review committee of the Legislature; from a governmental subdivision or agency; or from an association having not less than 25 members who will be directly affected, a hearing will be held at a later date.  Notice of the hearing will be published in the Montana Administrative Register.  Ten percent of those persons directly affected has been determined to be two based on the four active prospecting and 15 active mining permits in Montana.

 

            7.  The board maintains a list of interested persons who wish to receive notices of rulemaking actions proposed by this agency.  Persons who wish to have their name added to the list shall make a written request that includes the name, e-mail, and mailing address of the person to receive notices and specifies that the person wishes to receive notices regarding:  air quality; hazardous waste/waste oil; asbestos control; water/wastewater treatment plant operator certification; solid waste; junk vehicles; infectious waste; public water supply; public sewage systems regulation; hard rock (metal) mine reclamation; major facility siting; opencut mine reclamation; strip mine reclamation; subdivisions; renewable energy grants/loans; wastewater treatment or safe drinking water revolving grants and loans; water quality; CECRA; underground/above ground storage tanks; MEPA; or general procedural rules other than MEPA.  Notices will be sent by e-mail unless a mailing preference is noted in the request.  Such written request may be mailed or delivered to Elois Johnson, Paralegal, Department of Environmental Quality, 1520 E. Sixth Ave., P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901, faxed to the office at (406) 444-4386, e-mailed to Elois Johnson at ejohnson@mt.gov, or may be made by completing a request form at any rules hearing held by the board.

 

            8.  The bill sponsor contact requirements of 2-4-302, MCA, do not apply.

 

Reviewed by:                                     BOARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

 

 

 

/s/ John F. North                                  BY:  /s/ Joseph W. Russell                                  

JOHN F. NORTH                                           JOSEPH W. RUSSELL, M.P.H.,

Rule Reviewer                                               Chairman

 

            Certified to the Secretary of State, December 14, 2009.