SENATE BILL NO. 64
INTRODUCED BY A. MOHL
BY REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
AN ACT REVISING THE AIR QUALITY LAWS; EXEMPTING THE TRANSFER OF PERMITS FOR PORTABLE EMISSION SOURCES FROM THE MONTANA ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT REVIEW PROCESS; PLACING CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATING PERMIT FEES INTO THE SAME ACCOUNT; AMENDING SECTIONS 75-2-211 AND 75-2-221, MCA; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 75-2-211, MCA, is amended to read:
"75-2-211. Permits for construction, installation, alteration, or use. (1) The board shall by rule provide for the issuance, modification, suspension, revocation, and renewal of a permit issued under this part.
(2) Not later than 180 days before construction, installation, or alteration begins or as a condition of use of any machine, equipment, device, or facility that the board finds may directly or indirectly cause or contribute to air pollution or that is intended primarily to prevent or control the emission of air pollutants, the owner or operator shall file with the department the appropriate permit application on forms available from the department.
(3) The permit program administered by the department pursuant to this section must include the following:
(a) requirements and procedures for permit applications, including standard application forms;
(b) requirements and procedures for submittal of information necessary to determine the location, quantity, and type of emissions;
(c) procedures for public notice and opportunity for comment or public hearing, as appropriate;
(d) procedures for providing notice and an opportunity for comment to contiguous states and federal agencies, as appropriate;
(e) requirements for inspection, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting;
(f) procedures for the transfer of permits;
(g) requirements and procedures for suspension, modification, and revocation of permits by the department;
(h) requirements and procedures for appropriate emission limitations and other requirements, including enforceable measures necessary to ensure compliance with those limitations and requirements;
(i) requirements and procedures for permit modification and amendment; and
(j) requirements and procedures for issuing a single permit authorizing emissions from similar operations at multiple temporary locations, which permit may include conditions necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of this chapter at all authorized locations and a requirement that the owner or operator notify the department in advance of each change in location.
(4) This section does not restrict the board's authority to adopt regulations providing for a single air quality permit system.
(5) Department approval of an application to transfer a portable emission source from one location to another is exempt from the provisions of 75-1-201(1).
(5)(6) The department may, for good cause shown, waive or shorten the time required for filing the appropriate
applications.
(6)(7) The department shall require that applications for permits be accompanied by any plans, specifications, and other
information that it considers necessary.
(7)(8) An application is not considered filed until the applicant has submitted all fees required under 75-2-220 and all
information and completed application forms required pursuant to subsections (2), (3), and (6) (7) of this section. If the
department fails to notify the applicant in writing within 30 days after the purported filing of an application that the
application is incomplete and fails to list the reasons why the application is considered incomplete, the application is
considered filed as of the date of the purported filing.
(8)(9) (a) If an application for a permit requires the preparation of an environmental impact statement under the
Montana Environmental Policy Act, Title 75, chapter 1, parts 1 through 3, the department shall notify the applicant in
writing of the approval or denial of the application within:
(i) 180 days after the department's receipt of a filed application, as provided in subsection (7) (8), if the department
prepares the environmental impact statement;
(ii) 30 days after issuance of the final environmental impact statement by the lead agency if a state agency other than the department has been designated by the governor as lead agency for preparation of the environmental impact statement; or
(iii) if the application is for a machine, equipment, a device, or a facility at an operation that requires a permit under Title 82, chapter 4, part 1, 2, or 3, 30 days of issuance of the final environmental impact statement in accordance with time requirements of Title 82, chapter 4, part 1, 2, or 3.
(b) If an application does not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement, the department shall notify
the applicant in writing within 60 days after its receipt of a filed application, as provided in subsection (7) (8), of its approval
or denial of the application. The time for notification may be extended for 30 days by written agreement of the department
and the applicant. Additional 30-day extensions may be granted by the department on request of the applicant. Notification
of approval or denial may be served personally or by certified mail on the applicant or the applicant's agent.
(c) If an application for a permit is for the construction, installation, alteration, or use of a source that is also required to obtain a license pursuant to 75-10-221 or a permit pursuant to 75-10-406, the department shall act on the permit application within the time period provided for in 75-2-215(3)(e).
(d) Failure by the department to act in a timely manner does not constitute approval or denial of the application. This does not limit or abridge the right of any person to seek available judicial remedies to require the department to act in a timely manner.
(9)(10) When the department approves or denies the application for a permit under this section, a person who is jointly
or severally adversely affected by the department's decision may request a hearing before the board. The request for hearing
must be filed within 15 days after the department renders its decision and must include an affidavit setting forth the grounds
for the request. The contested case provisions of the Montana Administrative Procedure Act, Title 2, chapter 4, part 6,
apply to a hearing before the board under this subsection.
(10)(11) The department's decision on the application is not final unless 15 days have elapsed from the date of the
decision and there is no request for a hearing under this section. The filing of a request for a hearing postpones the effective
date of the department's decision until the conclusion of the hearing and issuance of a final decision by the board."
Section 2. Section 75-2-221, MCA, is amended to read:
"75-2-221. Deposit of air quality permitting fees. (1) All money collected by the department pursuant to 75-2-220 must be deposited in an account in the state special revenue fund to be appropriated by the legislature to the department for the development and administration of the permitting requirements of this chapter.
(2) The operating permit fees and the construction permit fees must be maintained in separate accounts within the state
special revenue fund.
(3) Upon request, the expenditure by the department of funds in these accounts this account may be audited by a
qualified auditor at the end of each fiscal year. The cost of the audit must be borne paid by the person requesting the audit."
Section 3. Effective dates. (1) [Section 1 and this section] are effective on passage and approval.
(2) [Section 2] is effective July 1, 1999.
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