DEQ seeks comment on permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity

from Montana Department of Environmental Quality

HELENA—The Department of Environmental Quality is proposing to renew the Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Multi-Sector General Permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity such as mining. The renewal of the multi-sector general permit will continue to provide statewide general permit coverage for owner and operators of industrial activities that discharge stormwater to state surface waters.

The general permit requires permittees to develop, implement, and maintain a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan that includes best management practices designed to manage and treat stormwater. The permit is renewed every five years. In this renewal, DEQ has proposed new requirements for permittees to post a public sign near the facility entrance, and for any industrial subsector with no existing monitoring requirements to conduct monitoring and report the results to DEQ.

The current multi-sector general permit expires Jan. 31, 2023 and the renewed general permit will be issued by July of 2023 and effective Feb. 1, 2023.

A public hearing will be held to provide a brief presentation on the new requirements and accept comment on the general permit and associated environmental assessment.

The draft permit, fact sheet, and draft environmental assessment are available for public comment until Feb. 24. Comments may be submitted electronically or by mail. To view the associated documents and submit comment, people can visit https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/news-article53 .

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What: A public hearing on the multi-sector general permit for stormwater discharges.

When: Feb. 24, 2022, at 10 a.m.

Where: The meeting will be held at DEQ Headquarters in Room 111, 1520 E. Sixth Ave., Helena, and online or by telephone. For more information people can visit https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/news-article53 .