BLM to review proposed Helena to Three Forks natural gas pipeline

If approved, NorthWestern Energy, could construct the pipeline to boost natural gas capacity in western Montana and enhance domestic energy infrastructure. The route includes approximately seven miles of BLM-managed public lands and would follow an existing utility corridor to minimize new ground disturbance and ecological disruption. The proposed 16-inch buried pipeline would be constructed in phases between spring 2026 and fall 2029.  

The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for overseeing the extraction of critical minerals on federally managed public lands needed for technologies like data centers and defense applications, and for authorizing the development of traditional energy sources, such as oil, gas, and coal. By managing public lands for responsible mineral extraction, the BLM ensures a stable supply of these essential resources. Through permitting, land management, and environmental oversight, the BLM helps reduce reliance on foreign minerals, bolstering the nation’s energy security and supporting the continued operation of key industrial sectors.  

Additional information is available at the BLM National NEPA Register. For more information, please contact BLM Project Manager Claire Romanko at 406-329-3823.