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DEQ Issues Final Environmental Review for North Plains Connector Project

  • Madison McGeffers
  • August 28 2026
Image shows major project components, including pre-existing infrastructure in yellow at Colstrip and Oliver County substations and new infrastructure in blue including two 500-KV bays in Colstrip, Rosebud County and Moron County Converter Stations, and Morton County Switchyard. Transmission lines connect all components except Colstrip Substation.

 

HELENA—The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), with the Department of Energy (DOE) as a co-lead, has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the North Plains Connector Project in compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). The Final EIS analyzes potential environmental impacts from the project and can be found on DEQ’s website. 

On Sept. 18, 2024, DEQ received an application for a Major Facility Siting Act (MFSA) Certificate of Compliance for the North Plains Connector Project, which proposes to construct and operate a new transmission line. The overhead transmission line would carry 525 kilovolts of high-voltage direct-current and provide 3,000 megawatts connecting the Western electrical grid to Eastern states. When completed, the project would start near Colstrip, traverse Rosebud, Custer and Fallon counties in Montana and terminate at two end points near Center and St. Anthony, North Dakota.

The publication of the Final EIS for the project is culmination of approximately two years of permitting under MFSA. The EIS process included two opportunities for public comment and review, which occurred during the scoping period before the EIS was drafted and later to collect feedback on the Draft EIS.

The Final EIS includes DEQ’s responses to substantive public comment, comments offering insight, analysis, or constructive feedback, made on the Draft EIS. DEQ must wait 15 days after the publication of the Final EIS to issue the Record of Decision and the MFSA Certificate of Compliance. The MFSA certificate is required before North Plains Connector can begin construction on the project. 

Tags: MEPA, Energy and Press Release