MONTANA’S BROWNFIELDS PROGRAMS
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 Montana Brownfields Assessments
Hazardous Waste Section
DEQ’s Hazardous Waste Section (HWS) administers the State’s Hazardous Waste Program. The 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. The HWS also oversees remediation when releases of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents occur at hazardous waste generator sites, as well as permitted facilities.
HWS uses brownfields funding for the following activities:
- Maintain and update the established public record and access on DEQ websites,
- Identify potential brownfields sites from the existing hazardous waste generator files and database,
- Update and enhance the HWS database of hazardous waste handles which includes such information as handler location, waste types and volumes generated,
- Provide a web-based digital atlas and searchable database of hazardous waste handler and permitted facility information to the public,
- Respond to information requests on brownfields sites and provide assistance with hazardous waste regulatory issues,
- Provide HWS program staff with training on brownfields-related issues, medical monitoring, and respirator fit testing,
- Provide oversight by HWS program staff for cleanup activities at hazardous waste generator sites, as needed and
- Conduct site specific assessments and cleanups at selected eligible hazardous waste generator sites.
The HWS has used brownfields grant funding for several projects, as well as provided support to DEQ’s Methamphetamine Cleanup Program (MCP) and Asbestos Control Program. These projects include:
- An inventory of chemicals used and stored in Montana public high school chemistry labs,
- Training for public school staff on safe handling, storage, and disposal of school lab chemicals,
- Methamphetamine cleanup certification training for contractors,
- A conference on methamphetamine remediation for state, local, and tribal governments, and
- Public awareness campaign to notify property owners and contractors of an asbestos-bearing rock called karstolite which was used locally in parts of Montana for insulation.
The HWS also keeps a list of hazardous waste facilities where cleanup activities have taken place or are in progress. Cleanups at these facilities were triggered by permitting requirements, discovery of hazardous waste spills during DEQ inspections, complaints, or self-reporting by handler. Click the following link to take you to the HWS Response Action List.
LUST/Brownfields Section
DEQ’s LUST/Brownfields Section (LBS) administers a portion of the State's petroleum cleanup program through the authority of the Montana Underground Storage Tank Act. LBS 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. LBS uses brownfields funding to enhance the petroleum cleanup program by conducting the following activities:
- Maintain and update established public record and use the Underground Storage Tank Access Database to 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 brownfields assessments, and
- Provide outreach throughout the state to assist local communities in preparing competitive Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup grants.
Follow the following link to review the Petroleum Brownfields Guidance Document.
