The department is hereby authorized and empowered to make requests of the United States for and on behalf of this state for payment of such sums in lieu of taxes as the United States may agree to pay and to consummate agreements with the United States, in the name of this state, for the performance of services by the state for the benefit of projects and for the payment by the United States to the state, in one or more installments, of such sums in lieu of taxes.
§ 17-3-302, MCA