2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 75. Environmental Protection › Chapter 2. Air Quality › Part 1. General Provisions and Administration › 75-2-112. Powers and responsibilities of department

75-2-112. Powers and responsibilities of department.
(1) The department is responsible for the administration of this chapter.
(2) Subject to the provisions of 75-2-207, the department shall:
(a) adopt, amend, and repeal rules for the administration, implementation, and enforcement of this chapter and for fulfilling the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 7420 and regulations adopted pursuant to that section, except that, for purposes other than agricultural open burning, the department may not adopt permitting requirements or any other rule relating to:
(i) any agricultural activity or equipment that is associated with the use of agricultural land or the planting, production, processing, harvesting, or storage of agricultural crops by an agricultural producer and that is not subject to the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 7475, 7503, or 7661a;
(ii) a commercial operation relating to the activities or equipment referred to in subsection (2)(a)(i) that remains in a single location for less than 12 months and is not subject to the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 7475, 7503, or 7661a; or
(iii) forestry equipment and its associated engine used for forestry practices that remain in a single location for less than 12 months and are not subject to the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 7475, 7503, or 7661a;
(b) issue orders necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter;
(c) by rule require access to records relating to emissions; and
(d) by rule adopt a schedule of fees required for permits, permit applications, and registrations consistent with this chapter.
(3) The department shall:
(a) by appropriate administrative and judicial proceedings, enforce orders issued by the department or the board;
(b) secure necessary scientific, technical, administrative, and operational services, including laboratory facilities, by contract or otherwise;
(c) prepare and develop a comprehensive plan for the prevention, abatement, and control of air pollution in this state;
(d) encourage voluntary cooperation by persons and affected groups to achieve the purposes of this chapter;
(e) encourage local units of government to handle air pollution problems within their respective jurisdictions on a cooperative basis and provide technical and consultative assistance for this. If local programs are financed with public funds, the department may contract with the local government to share the cost of the program. However, the state share may not exceed 30% of the total cost.
(f) encourage and conduct studies, investigations, and research relating to air contamination and air pollution and their causes, effects, prevention, abatement, and control;
(g) determine, by means of field studies and sampling, the degree of air contamination and air pollution in the state;
(h) make a continuing study of the effects of the emission of air contaminants from motor vehicles on the quality of the outdoor atmosphere of this state and make recommendations to appropriate public and private bodies with respect to this;
(i) collect and disseminate information and conduct educational and training programs relating to air contamination and air pollution;
(j) advise, consult, contract, and cooperate with other agencies of the state, local governments, industries, other states, interstate and interlocal agencies, the United States, and any interested persons or groups;
(k) consult, on request, with any person proposing to construct, install, or otherwise acquire an air contaminant source or device or system for the control thereof concerning the efficacy of this device or system or the air pollution problems which may be related to the source, device, or system. Nothing in this consultation relieves a person from compliance with this chapter, rules in force under it, or any other provision of law.
(l) accept, receive, and administer grants or other funds or gifts from public or private agencies, including the United States, for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. Funds received under this section shall be deposited in the state treasury to the account of the department.
(4) The department may assess fees to the applicant for the analysis of the environmental impact of an application to redesignate the classification of any area, except those areas within the exterior boundaries of a reservation of a federally recognized Indian tribe, under the classifications established by 42 U.S.C. 7470 through 7479 (prevention of significant deterioration of air quality). The determination of whether or not a fee will be assessed is to be on a case-by-case basis.
History: (1)En. Sec. 4, Ch. 313, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 349, L. 1974; Sec. 69-3907, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. 69-3909.1 by Sec. 18, Ch. 349, L. 1974; Sec. 69-3909.1, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 69-3907, 69-3909.1; (3)En. Sec. 2, Ch. 560, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 324, L. 2021.