Halogenated Solvent Users  Registration Act

75-10-451 MCA: An Act to require persons who annually use 20 gallons or more of halogenated solvents for commercial purposes and government users to register with the Department of Environmental Quality; and to prohibit the sale of 20 gallons or more of halogenated solvents for commercial or government use to persons not possessing proof of registration.75-10-451 MCA shall be thereafter referred to in this text as the Halogenated Solvent Users Registration Act.  The following is a summary of the more important aspects of the Act.

Please contact your County Regulatory Personnel for more information.

You may view and/or print the following lists of available services in either Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word:

The Effect of the Halogenated Solvent Users Registration Act of Solvent Users and Distributors:

The Halogenated Solvent Users Registration Act became effective October 1, 1989.The law specifies that it is unlawful for any person to distribute, sell, or offer for sale within Montana quantities of 20 gallons or more of a halogenated solvent annually, unless the purchaser possesses proof of registration with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.  It further specifies that it is unlawful for any person to annually use 20 gallons or more of a halogenated solvent for commercial purposes without registering with the Department.

What are Halogenated Solvents ?

Solvents are substances which are capable of dissolving or dispersing other substances.  Halogenated solvents are those chemicals which contain one or more of the halogen elements:

  • chlorine
  • bromine
  • fluorine
  • astatine
  • and iodine.

Most halogenated solvents contain chlorine and are referred to as chlorinated solvents. Halogenated solvents are usually very toxic to living organisms and have significant potential to degrade the environment and affect human health if improperly handled or disposed.

Which Solvents are Affected by the Act ?

The halogenated solvents affected include those that meet the listing of hazardous waste when discarded as specified in 40 CFR 261.31, and have been assigned the hazardous waste numbers F001 and F002.

The following is a list of the affected solvents and a description of typical industrial uses for these solvents:

  • carbon tetrachloride - as a laboratory solvent, in semiconductor manufacture, in metal recovery and catalyst regeneration
  • chlorinated fluorocarbons including trichlorofluoromethane (Freons) - used in degreasing operations or other solvent uses (not as refrigerants or propellants)
  • chlorobenzene - tar and grease remover, degreasing operations, solvent in surface coating and surface coating remover
  • methylene chloride - used in paint and varnish strippers, carburetor cleaners, vapor degreasing, cold parts cleaner
  • ortho-dichlorobenzene - metal degreaser, cleaning of brick and upholstery, removal of surface coating
  • tetrachloroethylene (Perc) - dry cleaning, degreasing and metal cleaning, vapor degreasing, general solvent in textile, printing, soap, and paint remover industries
  • 1,1,1-trichloroethane - electrical solvent, coolant and lubricant in cutting oils, degreasing, printed circuit board production.
  • 1,1,2-trichloroethane - solvent for fats, oils, waxes, resins, other products; organic synthesis
  • trichloroethylene - metal decreasing, cleaning and drying electronic parts, diluent in paints and adhesives, textile processing
  • 1,1,2-trichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane - drying electronic parts, solvent drying, dry-cleaning
  • And all solvent mixtures/blends containing, before use, a total of ten percent or more (by volume) of one or more of the aforementioned solvents and the following solvents:
    • cresols & cresylic acid
    • nitrobenzene
    • toluene
    • methyl ethyl ketone
    • carbon disulfide
    • isobutanol
    • pyridine
    • benzene
    • 2-ethoxyethanol
    • 2-nitropropane

What commonly used industrial solvents are not halogenated and therefore not affected by the Halogenated Solvent Users Registration Act ?

The following is a list of some of the more commonly used non-halogenated solvents:

  • Acetone
  • Ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
  • Ethyl acetate
  • Methyl alcohol (wood alcohol, methanol)
  • Methyl ethyl ketone
  • Stoddard solvent (mineral spirits)
  • Toluene (toluol)

How do I know if I’m using an affected halogenated solvent ?

Container labels will often specify the contents of products. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) prepared by product manufacturers are required to list hazardous ingredients contained in individual products.  If the information contained in a product's MSDS is insufficient, contact with the product manufacturer is sometimes warranted.  Product distributors are another excellent source of information. Contact with trade associations may also be helpful.  Reference materials which you may have on hand at your business or that are available at your local library may be helpful.  Personnel at the Department’s Waste & Underground Storage Tank Management Bureau,  Hazardous Waste Program (406-444-5300) may also be of assistance.

How do I register?

Halogenated solvent users may register with the Department printing the “HALOGENATED SOLVENT USER REGISTRATION FORM.” -- found in both Adobe PDF and MS Word formats  under the Hazardous Waste Forms listings.

Upon receipt of your completed registration form, you will be issued a proof-of-registration card which may be presented to solvent vendors as evidence of registration.

If my company operates at more than one site in the state, do I need to register each site ?

No. You are required to submit a single application for registration regardless of the number of sites your company may operate within Montana.

May I receive more than one proof-of-registration card ?

Yes. The registration form contains a space where you may specify the number of cards needed or you may contact the Department for additional cards.

How do I get information regarding proper waste solvent disposal or ideas which may minimize the amount of waste solvents that my business produces?

The Waste and Underground Tank Management Bureau has prepared industry-specific information about waste minimization.  These techniques are often overlooked and inexpensive methods to reduce the amount of halogenated solvent and other waste streams which a business generates.  Product substitution, solvent distillation, waste stream segregation, inventory control, employee training and spill/leak prevention are some of the effective ways to minimize waste generation.