1.    Before exercising its powers to construct pipeline facilities granted to it in this chapter except for subsection 3 of section 54-17.7-04, the authority shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in North Dakota and in a newspaper in the project area a notice describing the need for pipeline facilities contemplated by the authority. A person willing to construct the pipeline facilities or furnish services to satisfy the needs described in the notice has a period of one hundred eighty days from the date of last publication of the notice within which to delivery to the authority a notice of intent. After receipt of a notice of intent, the authority may not exercise its powers to construct pipeline facilities unless the authority finds that exercising its authority would be in the public interest. In making such a finding, the authority shall consider factors, including economic impact to the state, economic feasibility, technical performance, reliability, past performance, and the likelihood of successful completion and ongoing operation.

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2.    The authority may require a person giving a notice of intent to provide a bond and to submit a plan for completion of the pipeline facilities or commencement of services within a period of time acceptable to the authority. If no person submits an adequate plan or bond as required by the authority, the authority may proceed with contracting for construction of the facility described in the authority’s published notice.