Mont. Water Right Claim Examination R. 44

RULE 44(a). Purpose. The department will use claimant

contact as the primary means of gathering facts and data

pertaining to issues on claims unresolved by routine

examination procedures.

RULE 44(b). Means. The department will initiate contact

by the means capable of providing the necessary facts and

data in the least intrusive and most efficient manner. The

department will attempt to review all claims of an owner to

consolidate issues before claimant contact. Claimant contact

may be through telephone interviews, written correspondence,

or personal interviews, or on-site visits at claimant’s invitation.

RULE 44(c). Documentation. Claimant contact activity

will be documented in the claim file and may include such

items as the name of the department employee, the name of

person contacted, date, means of contact, telephone number,

location, issues covered, and conclusions reached.

(1) All written correspondence and interview reports

will be added to the claim file.

(2) The department may send a letter of confirmation

to the claimant for data gathered by telephone.

RULE 44(d). Examining information. When the

department gathers data and facts concerning a claim, the

information will be examined according to the rule governing

the purpose identified. Pertinent new information will be

entered into the centralized record system.

RULE 44(e). Summary report. In the summary report to

the water court, the department shall provide pertinent

information gathered through claimant contact.