Montana Department of Environmental Quality About Us Permitting & Operator Assistance Public Participation

Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Program | Notice of Proposed Rule Amendment | Comment Period Ends June 05, 2026

  • May 08 2026

Rulemaking Background: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing amendments to two Montana Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act (CECRA) Rules: Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) 17.55.113 and 17.55.115.

DEQ, at the direction of the Governor’s Office, has prioritized fixing the "readability" found in some Administrative Rules. Our review of the CECRA Program rules identified the above-referenced two rules that should be made easier to read by reducing the grade level at which the rules are written.

Opportunity to Comment:  

You are invited to submit comments on these rule amendments in writing. Written comments may be submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901; faxed to (406) 444-4386; or e-mailed to DEQMAR2026-52@mt.gov , and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., June 05, 2026. 

If the agency receives requests for a public hearing on the proposed rulemaking from either 10 percent or 25 people, whichever is less, of the persons directly affected by the proposed rulemaking; from the appropriate administrative rule review committee of the Legislature; from a governmental subdivision or agency; or from an association having not less than 25 members who will be directly affected, a hearing will be held.

Associated Materials:

May 08, 2026, Montana Administrative Register MAR: Issue 09 of the 2026 MAR at  2026 MAR Issue 09 52.1

Comment Period Ends: June 5, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

Send/Submit Comments To:

Department of Environmental Quality
PO Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620-0901

Or electronically to:  DEQMAR2026-52@mt.gov

Accommodation statement

The department will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this public participation process or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact the department no later than 5:00 P.M. on May 26, 2026, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Please contact the Department of Environmental Quality at P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901; phone (406) 444-1388; or e-mail DEQMAR2026-52@mt.gov.

Tags: Cleanup, Public Comment and Rule Making