In 2009, SB 498 created a presumption that the surface owner of a property is also the owner of the subsurface geologic storage reservoir unless deeds or severance documents establish that a different party owns the subsurface. The bill also authorizes the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation to unitize a subsurface reservoir for geologic storage of carbon dioxide upon receiving an application from a party owning or holding subsurface storage rights to 60 percent of the storage capacity of the proposed storage area and after a public hearing.