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Citizens' Guide to Air Quality in Montana

Managing, Maintaining, and Improving Montana's Air Quality

 

On this page: Montana's Current AQ Status | Activities & Solutions | Regulatory vs Nonregulatory Activities |
Who Does What?

 

Montana's Current Air Quality Status

Montana is a large state (147,138 square miles) with a small population (879,372, according to the estimated 1996 Montana County Population Census). Air quality problems in Montana are usually related to urban areas and mountainous topography or river valleys that are sensitive to temperature inversions. Particulate matter and carbon monoxide are the criteria pollutants that have the greatest adverse impact on Montana's air quality. Particulate matter generally comes from vehicles traveling on unpaved roads, sand and gravel from winter traction material, and residential wood burning. Carbon monoxide comes primarily from motor vehicles and residential wood burning. Although industrial sources account for only a small part of carbon monoxide and particulate matter emissions in most communities, industries are the main sources of sulfur dioxide and lead pollution in Montana.

Montana has 13 areas have been designated as nonattainment. These areas have exceeded the national ambient air quality standards for at least one of the following criteria pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, particulate matter, and/or sulfur dioxide. DEQ monitors each of these pollutants in nonattainment areas.

As of January 2000, the total number of monitoring sites DEQ operates is 35. Some of these sites collected data for more than one pollutant. Many county governments and private industries operate their own monitoring stations throughout the state. Each year, DEQ reviews its monitoring network to determine if monitoring at each site should be expanded to include additional pollutants, partially or completely discontinued, or moved to a new site in the community with known or suspected air quality infringements. In addition, DEQ has monitored for ozone in Billings, Butte, and Anaconda as a reaction to concerns that rapid population growth in these areas could cause ozone problems.

In response to the new national ambient air quality standards for PM-2.5, DEQ has established 12 new PM-2.5 monitoring locations in Billings, Butte, Helena, Kalispell, Libby, Missoula (2), Whitefish, Belgrade, Great Falls, Hamilton, and Thompson Falls.. In many cases, county air quality and health staff will operate these sites.

Criteria pollutant emissions from industries continue to fluctuate across Montana, but pollution control strategies in nonattainment areas have improved air quality since 1986. PM-10 monitoring data from Butte, Columbia Falls, Missoula, and Thompson Falls indicated improvements in air quality. Sulfur dioxide levels in Billings also showed a strong downward trend toward improved air quality. The only lead nonattainment area in Montana is East Helena. Ambient lead levels there have fluctuated over the years, but have shown a recent decrease. Maintaining improvements in air quality poses a challenge to the state as new industries open and Montana's population continues to grow.

 

Activities & Solutions

DEQ and local air pollution control agencies administer the state's air quality program, which includes six general areas:

• permits;
• inspections and enforcement activities;
• state implementation plans;
• air quality monitoring;
• confidential site assessments; and
• technical compliance and pollution prevention assistance.

The combination of these activities provides Montanans with a coordinated and comprehensive program of public education, monitoring, pollution prevention, problem correction, and enforcement.

In order to prevent future air quality problems, Montana relies primarily on its permitting program to meet the requirements of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This program requires all significant sources of air pollution to obtain a permit prior to construction. Montana requires a permit for any source that may emit more than 25 tons per year of any criteria air pollutant (except lead, which has a cap of five tons per year). Montana's permitting program has EPA approval and operates in lieu of a federal program.

DEQ has a Small Business Ombudsman (SBO) and a Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP) to provide free and confidential help to small business stationary sources of air pollution like automobile refinishing shops, dry cleaners, chromium electroplaters, printers, and small manufacturers. Even though emissions from these businesses are small when compared to large facilities, they can affect human health and the environment with acute releases or from their cumulative impacts in urban areas. The SBO is responsible for helping these businesses understand the environmental regulations that affect them and for making sure that new regulations are effective and fair. The SBAP provides technical assistance to small businesses with regard to their pollution prevention options, permits, and control technologies.

Regulatory vs Nonregulatory Activities

When the Montana Department of Environmental Quality reorganized in 1995, it brought together both regulatory and nonregulatory environmental services from three different agencies.  In addition to permitting and enforcement activities, DEQ also provides public education and assistance in financial, planning,  pollution prevention, and technical nonregulatory issues.

One of the most difficult tasks in air pollution control is to bring areas that exceed air quality standards back into compliance. DEQ works with communities and industries to develop individualized control plans to ensure compliance with all standards. All of these plans, permit rules, and emission standards are known collectively as the State Implemation Plan (SIP). SIP preparation and revision is an immense and ongoing effort that requires public input and, in the end, has a profound effect on Montana communities and industries. Montana's air quality program will continue to focus on SIP development and Clean Air Act Amendment requirements.

Ambient air quality monitoring is an important part of any air quality monitoring program, and DEQ operates monitoring stations throughout Montana with a focus on known or suspected problem areas. Numerous industries also operate monitoring stations around the state as part of the PSD program. Efforts will continue to focus on PM-10 and other nonattainment area monitoring requirements.

DEQ has developed an industrial inspection program in which department staff visits industries and assesses the level of compliance with SIP requirements, emissions standards, and permit conditions. DEQ works closely with these industries to solve any problems. DEQ handles each violation on a case-by-case basis and follows a State/EPA Enforcement Agreement. If violations are found, enforcement actions may include:

• requests for voluntary compliance;
• hearings before the Board of Environmental Review;
• notices of Violation and Order to Take Corrective Action; and
• civil or criminal penalties.

Who Does What?

The 1990 Clean Air Act is a federal law that covers the entire country, ensuring that all Americans have the same basic health and environmental protections. Under this law, EPA sets limits on how much of a particular pollutant can be in the air anywhere in the United States. The states, however, do much of the work to carry out the provisions of the Act. The law allows individual states to have more protective ambient air standards, but they are not allowed to have less stringent standards than those set by EPA for the whole country. The 1990 Clean Air Act also gives important new enforcement powers to EPA. It enables EPA to fine violators, much like a police officer giving traffic tickets.

Within Montana, the Clean Air Act of Montana allows the development of local air pollution control programs. With DEQ assistance, these programs handle the development of control strategies for nonattainment areas that need SIPs, as well as permitting of smaller sources. Montana's state government still issues permits to large air pollutant sources located within the jurisdiction of local air pollution control programs. The State of Montana does not have jurisdiction over air quality matters on tribal lands. Each tribal authority, with the help of EPA, develops an air quality control program to control emissions on reservation lands.