MISSOULA (AP) -- Three public meetings are scheduled in Montana regarding a proposal by NorthWestern Energy to build and operate a 500 kV electric transmission line.

Known as the Mountain States Transmission Intertie Project, the proposed line would be between 390 and 430 miles long and would cross private, state and federally managed lands in southwestern Montana and southeastern Idaho.

The Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Montana Department of Environmental Quality are preparing an environmental impact statement on the proposal.

Public meetings will be held at the Copper King Hotel in Butte on Tuesday, Sept. 9; Three Forks High School on Wednesday, Sept. 10; and the Lewis and Clark Room of Matthews Hall at the University of Montana-Western in Dillon on Thursday, Sept. 11.

All meetings will be held between 7 and 9 p.m.