2023 Legislative Session Information

The Department of Environmental Quality is organized into three divisions and the Director's Office. More information about the various programs housed within each division can be found by using the main navigation menu above.

View DEQ Org Chart

Air, Energy and Mining

The Air, Energy and Mining Division permits and regulates environmentally-protective and productive operations in air, hard rock mining, opencut mining, and coal mining industries according to program statutory authority. The permitting and regulatory work includes extensive coordination with other programs to develop environmental review documents that comply with the Montana Environmental Policy Act, including environmental assessments and environmental impact statements. The division includes the State Energy Office, or Energy Bureau, which promotes and improves Montanans' access to energy efficiency and alternative energy sources while improving the state’s energy security by offering financing mechanisms, technical assistance, and education for public and private entities.

Waste Management & Remediation

The Waste Management and Remediation Division protects human health and the environment by preventing exposure to contaminants, working with Montana communities and businesses to implement effective material management and cleanup strategies, and overseeing compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. It oversees and conducts or supports remedial investigation and efficient, cost-effective cleanup activities at state and federal superfund sites; supervises voluntary cleanup activities; reclaims abandoned mine lands; implements corrective actions at sites; and administers regulatory asbestos, methamphetamine, and waste management programs.

Water Quality

The Water Quality Division protects public health and water quality in the state of Montana. This is accomplished through the financing and technical assistance provided for community water and wastewater systems; the development of water quality restoration plans; managing a State-wide monitoring network; subdivision review; monitoring compliance of public water systems; and water discharge permitting. The division achieves this through coordination with the public and regulated community by proposing rules, drafting policy, and developing water quality standards.

Director's Office

The Director's Office is responsible for agency-wide administration, management, planning, evaluation, and support. The programs within the Director's Office provide overall policy direction and support services to the agency in the areas of human resources, information management and technology, legal, enforcement, public affairs, fiscal, records management, safety, emergency management, and continuous process improvement.

The agency also provides administrative support to the Board of Environmental Review. In addition, although it is not attached to DEQ by law, the Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board (PTRCB) is functionally supported by DEQ. The board provides procedures and resources for reimbursement of expenditures for cleanup of petroleum tank leaks. Finally, the 2017 Legislature established an advisory team, the Libby Asbestos Superfund Oversight Committee, that is also attached to DEQ for administrative purposes. Read more about these groups and more at the Affiliated Boards and Councils tab above.

DEQ Values

Our values complement and help us achieve our mission of championing a healthy environment for a thriving Montana. We value accountability, communication, customer service, decision-making, efficiency, excellence, and leadership.

Goals & Objectives

We work to set smart, forward-thinking goals in all DEQ programs, and we hold ourselves accountable for measuring whether we achieve what we set out to do. The document linked below provides a snapshot of DEQ's measurable goals and objectives for the 2025 Biennium.

DEQ Goals & Objectives for the 2025 Biennium (.pdf)

DEQ Annual Plan - FY2024 (.pdf) - Prepared in compliance with House Bill 190 (2023)

Appropriations Subcommittee

The Legislature reviews DEQ's budget as part of the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee Section C - Natural Resources and Transportation. Click the button below to visit the Section C web page for additional information, including a list of subcommittee members and a draft schedule of hearings and executive action.

Section C Subcommittee

If you prefer, use the following button to go directly to information about DEQ, prepared by the Legislative Fiscal Division (LFD), including the official DEQ budget analysis for the 2025 biennium.

LFD Agency Profile - DEQ

Agency Materials

• DEQ Budget Subcommittee Handout

Through the interim, DEQ presented several legislative proposals to the Environmental Quality Council and the Water Policy Interim Committee. The following bills have been introduced for consideration by the 2023 Legislature based on these proposals.

SB 39 - Revise permitting for incinerators

SB 48 - Repeal detachable metal beverage container opener laws

SB 55 - Join Interstate Mining Compact Commission

HB 54 - Revise laws related to petroleum brownfields

HB 88 - Revise third-party permission at state superfund sites