The Montana Department of Environmental Protection has the Montana Brownfields Assessment program where contractors conduct environmental site assessments and cleanup planning for public agencies and nonprofits, and at privately owned sites with public benefit projects. Contact Jason Seyler at 406- 841-5071 or jsaeyler@mt.gov or Amy Steinmetz at 406-841-5053 or asteinmetz@mt.gov.

Under the Targeted Brownfields Assessment program, EPA Region 8 contractors conduct environmental site assessments and cleanup planning for public agencies and nonprofits, and at privately owned sites with public benefit projects. Contact William Rothenmeyer at 303-312-6045 or rothenmeyer.william@epa.gov.

Under the EPA's Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Communities program, the Community Brownfields Foundation (CBF) and CCLR provide in-kind technical assistance and training to communities and other stakeholders on brownfields issues with the goal of increasing the community's understanding and involvement in brownfield cleanup and revitalization. The TAB grants serve as an independent source of information assisting communities with community involvement, better understanding the health impacts of brownfield sites, science and technology relating to brownfield site assessment, remediation, and site preparation activities, brownfield finance questions, and information on integrated approaches to brownfield cleanup and redevelopment. Contact Jesse Silverstein at 303-962-0942 or jesse@communitybrownfieldsfoundation.org.

Originally signed into law in 1997 and extended through December 31, 2011, the Brownfields Tax Incentive encourages the cleanup and reuse of brownfields. Under the Brownfields Tax Incentive, environmental cleanup costs are fully deductible in the year incurred, rather than capitalized and spread over time. Improvements in 2006 expanded the tax incentive to include petroleum cleanup.

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 activities such as updating site inventory, enhancing public record systems, and conducting outreach to assist local communities.

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. The HWS also oversees remediation when releases of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents occur at hazardous waste generator sites, as well as permitted facilities.

LUST/Brownfields

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 activities such as identifying potential petroleum brownfields sites, responding to information requests, and providing outreach.

This program established by the Voluntary Cleanup and Redevelopment Act (VCRA) encourages voluntary cleanup of facilities where releases or threatened releases of hazardous or deleterious substances exist, by providing interested persons with a method of determining what the cleanup responsibilities will be for reuse or redevelopment of existing facilities.

The Controlled Allocation of Liability Act (CALA) is a streamlined, voluntary process that allows potentially liable persons (PLPs) to petition for an allocation of liability as an alternative to the strict, joint and several liability provisions included in the Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act (CECRA).