Montana Groundwater: What you need to know

Montana Groundwater Pollution Control System (MGWPCS) permits: Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) 17.30.1001 to 17.30.1045

Groundwater classification: ARM 17.30.1006

Nondegradation requirement: ARM 17.30.1011

Groundwater mixing zones: ARM 17.30.1010

Mixing zone standards: ARM 17.30.517

Permits: ARM 17.30.1023

General permits: ARM 17.30.1042

Special permit conditions: ARM 17.30.1031

Permit duration: ARM 17.30.1032

Controlled Groundwater Areas: ARM 36.12.905 and ARM 36.12.906

Water well drilling: ARM 36.21.101 to 36.21.810

Agricultural chemicals: Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 80-15-101 to 80-15-414

Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Permitting and Compliance Division

Montana Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8

See ADDRESSES & CONTACTS for addresses and telephone numbers.

See national section for basic information and federal regulations.

• Rules. The state generally follows the federal requirements for groundwater monitoring for hazardous waste facilities. See the national section GROUNDWATER for additional guidance.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) also issues Montana Groundwater Pollution Control System (MGWPCS) permits for discharges of wastewater to groundwater in the state (Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) 17.30.1001 to 17.30.1045). The state has also developed a licensing program for water well drilling, which includes provisions for construction standards.

Montana has also enacted the Agriculture Chemical Groundwater Protection Act to protect groundwater supplies from agricultural chemical applications.

• Administration and enforcement.