MONTANA’S BROWNFIELDS PROGRAMS

Brewery Flats Brownfield Site
Brewery Flats Brownfield Site - Lewistown, Montana

Site Response Section

DEQ’s Site Response Section (SRS) administers the Montana State Superfund and Voluntary Cleanup Programs. The SRS is part of the Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Bureau in DEQ’s Remediation Division. SRS personnel work on both State Superfund and Voluntary Cleanup sites. SRS uses brownfields funding to enhance its State Superfund and Voluntary Cleanup Programs by conducting the following activities:

  • Update its site inventory and continue to perform oversight and enforcement of cleanups,
  • Enhance its public record systems to provide better availability of information on Brownfields sites and more opportunities for meaningful public participation,
  • Respond to information requests on Brownfields sites and the State Response Programs,
  • Provide program staff with training to keep staff current on new policies and technologies, and to enhance the SRS’s cleanup capacity,
  • Provide medical monitoring and respirator fit-testing to staff,
  • Conduct outreach to assist local communities in preparing competitive Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup grants.
  • Provide technical assistance, review and endorsement of Brownfields grant proposals prepared by various entities within the state,
  • Provide oversight on sites where cost-recovery may not be possible and technical assistance on sites where EPA is conducting removal activities,
  • Investigate sites with the potential to be listed, and
  • Conduct targeted brownfield assessments.

Hazardous Waste Section

DEQ’s Hazardous Waste Section (HWS) administers the State’s Hazardous Waste Program. HWS is part of the Waste and Underground Tank Management Bureau in DEQ’s Permitting and Compliance Division. The Hazardous Waste Act requires compliance with hazardous waste regulations for generators of hazardous waste and permitted treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDFs). HWS also oversees remediation when releases of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents occur at hazardous waste generator sites, as well as permitted TSDFs.

The Methamphetamine Cleanup Program (MCP) is also part of the Waste and Underground Tank Management Bureau in DEQ’s Permitting and Compliance Division. The Montana legislature authorized the MCP in 2005. The MCP mission is to protect public health, safety and welfare by providing specific standards and guidelines for the cleanup of properties contaminated with hazardous chemical residues created by the manufacture of methamphetamine.

HWS uses brownfields funding to enhance the Hazardous Waste Program and support the Methamphetamine Cleanup Program by conducting the following activities:

  • Maintain and update the established public record and access on DEQ websites,
  • Continue to identify potential brownfields sites from the existing hazardous waste generator files and database,
  • Respond to information requests on brownfields sites and provide assistance with hazardous waste regulatory issues,
  • Provide program staff with training on brownfields-related issues, medical monitoring, and respirator fit testing,
  • Maintain and update the MCP inventory of methamphetamine-contaminated properties and website, including improving public access,
  • Develop MCP compliance and cleanup guidance,
  • Conduct site specific assessments and cleanups at selected methamphetamine-contaminated properties,
  • Conduct methamphetamine cleanup certification training for contractors,
  • Conduct confirmatory sampling at selected methamphetamine-contaminated properties, and
  • Organize a conference on methamphetamine remediation for state, local, and tribal governments.

Petroleum Release Section

DEQ’s Petroleum Release Section (PRS) administers the State's Petroleum Release Program through the authority of the Montana Underground Storage Tank Act. PRS is part of the Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Bureau in DEQ's Remediation Division. Montana's Underground Storage Tank Act requires compliance with the Montana Underground Storage Tank Rules that include the requirements for release reporting, investigation, confirmation, abatement measures, and corrective action. PRS uses brownfields funding to enhance the Petroleum Release Program by conducting the following activities:

  • Maintain and update established public record and keep using the Underground Storage Tank Access Database and improve public access to this information,
  • Identify potential petroleum brownfields sites by conducting field inventories,
  • Identify potential petroleum brownfields sites from the existing active petroleum release sites,
  • Respond to information requests on petroleum brownfields sites and provide assistance with petroleum release regulatory issues,
  • Provide program staff with training on petroleum brownfields-related issues,
  • Conduct targeted brownfield assessments, and
  • Provide outreach throughout the state to assist local communities in preparing competitive Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup grants.