The Montana Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board

In the News...February 2011

Petroleum Mixing Zone Legislation

Senate Bill 9, introduced by Senator Jim Keane, would authorize the Department of Environmental Quality to establish a petroleum mixing zone when no further corrective action is reasonably required at the site. A "petroleum mixing zone" would be an area where water quality standards may be exceeded subject to certain conditions consistent with rules adopted in accordance with 75-11-318, 75-11-319 and 75-11-505, MCA. The Bill language may be viewed by entering the Bill Number, SB 9, into the Montana Legislature's Bill Information Look Up web page, http://laws.leg.mt.gov/laws11/law0203w$.startup.

Proposed Rule Changes

The Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board held a public hearing on the MONTANA ADMINISTRATIVE REGISTER (MAR) Notice No. 17-313 in early February. This notice of Public Hearing was for Proposed Amendment, Adoption, and Repeal of Board Rules. The Board plans to hold a Teleconference meeting on March 7, 2011 at 10:00, 1100 N. Last Chance Gulch, Rm 122, Helena, to discuss comments on MAR notice No. 17-313. You may review the proposed rule changes at http://deq.mt.gov/dir/legal/hearing.mcpx.

The Board will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this meeting or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact Ann Root no later than 5:00 p.m., February 25, 2011 to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Please contact Ann Root at Petroleum Board, P.O. Box 200902, Helena, Montana, 59620-0902; phone (406) 841-5093, fax (406) 841-5091; or e-mail aroot@mt.gov.

New Codes, Rates and Tasks Link

We've added a new Link on our web pages, in the left menu, called Codes, Rates and Tasks. http://deq.mt.gov/pet/codesratestasks.mcpx

ASTSWMO Information

The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) mission is to enhance and promote effective State and Territorial programs for waste and materials management, to encourage environmentally sustainable practices and to affect relevant national waste an materials management policies. In support of that mission their State Funds Task Force conducts a survey of national state funds, which are similar to Montana's Petroleum Fund. The results of the survey can provide insight to how Montana's Petroleum Tank Release Cleanup Fund stacks up against other state funds. Although the survey is the result of state funds providing feedback on standard questions there is valuable information summarized about the nation. This includes topics such as prioritization, average release cleanup costs, risk based cleanup, etc. ASTAWMO has the survey results for several years on their website. Links for the most recent survey results are provided below.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY