- Prioritize sites for cleanup actions by conducting initial sampling, field studies, or research and by evaluating potential impacts to public health and safety and the
environment.
- Oversee investigations and cleanups conducted by responsible parties either
voluntarily or under order by the Department
of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and implement cleanup actions to eliminate
imminent threats to public health and the environment.
- Oversee or implement remedial actions at sites on the federal National Priorities List (NPL) that have been
delegated to Montana for state-lead status under cooperative agreements with EPA.
- Provide technical and management assistance to EPA for remedial investigations and cleanup actions at NPL (Superfund) sites maintained in federal-lead status.
- Investigate sites and implement cleanup actions where there is an imminent threat to public health, public safety, or the environment and where a responsible party cannot be
identified or is insolvent, or where a responsible party fails to address the risk.
- Recover costs for investigation and cleanup at sites with viable responsible parties by maintaining detailed records of work completed and costs incurred for that work, and
billing the responsible parties for those costs.
- Maintain data management and geographic information systems to facilitate design and cleanup actions at
State Superfund and abandoned mine sites; and to track active and closed USTs to facilitate enforcement of
compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Facilitate and encourage timely and consistent decisions for site cleanups by developing rules, cleanup standards, and guidance for project officers and responsible parties.
- Communicate and coordinate with other agencies, local governments, and citizens by responding to inquiries and requests for information and providing brochures to the public that
explain regulatory changes or guidelines for preventing or abating hazardous or deleterious substance releases to the environment.
- Provide education and outreach to regulated entities through on-site visits, telephone assistance, public meetings, brochures, fact sheets, and
public-service announcements.
- Provide for public participation in the evaluation and selection of cleanup alternatives for sites with hazardous or deleterious substance releases by holding public meetings and
soliciting comments on remedial plans and reports.
- Administer remediation and abandoned mine reclamation programs consistent with applicable state and federal laws, rules, and
regulations.
- Participate in liability allocations for sites undergoing an orphan share allocation and oversee appropriate reimbursement of private parties conducting cleanup.
- Develop and enhance voluntary cleanup program to increase number of voluntary cleanups and streamline the voluntary cleanup process.
