NOTICE OF PROPOSED LEASE OR LICENSE BLACK EAGLE FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Montana Board of Land Commissioners (Land Board) will consider a proposed lease agreement concerning NorthWestern Energy for its use and occupation of state-owned riverbed of the Missouri River for the Black Eagle Falls Hydroelectric Project in Great Falls, Montana. The Black Eagle Falls Hydroelectric Project is located on the Missouri River in Cascade County, Montana, beginning at River Mile 2117.9 at the head of Black Eagle Falls dam, generally located along the section line common to Sections 5 and 6, T20N, R4E, PMM; thence upstream and ending at River Mile 2121.1 located in Section 11, T20N, R3E, PMM and occupies approximately 417 acres of state-owned riverbed. The Land Board will consider this matter at its regularly scheduled public meeting on August 17, 2026. The meeting will be held at 9 a.m., in the Old Supreme Court Chambers, Room 303, Montana State Capitol, 1301 East 6th Avenue, Helena, Montana. The proposed lease agreement pertains to the occupancy and use of the bed and banks of the Missouri River associated with operation of the Black Eagle Falls Hydroelectric project. A copy of the proposed lease may be obtained from The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Forestry & Trust Lands Management Division, 1539 Elev-enth Ave., Helena, MT 59601, by email at landboard@mt.gov or by phone at 406-444-5499. Interested persons may appear at the meeting and submit verbal or written comments regarding the proposed lease agreement. Written comments may also be submitted in advance to DNRC, Forestry & Trust Lands Division, 1539 Eleventh Ave. Helena, MT 59601, or by email at landboard@mt.gov, to be received no later than August 14, 2026, 9 a.m. so they can be provided to the Land Board prior to the meeting. Information about the agenda item will be available for public review on the Land Board's website at: https://dnrc.mt.gov/TrustLand/About/land-board or at DNRC, 1539 Eleventh Ave. Helena, MT 59601, during regular business hours. DATED this 6th day of July, 2026. MONTANA BOARD OF LAND COMMISSIONERS By: /s/Ryan Weiss Ryan Weiss, Trust Lands Deputy Administrator, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, on behalf of the Board of Land Commissioners MNAXLP July 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5, 12 2026 LMTS0550300