Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 75. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

CHAPTER 11. UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS

Part 5. Montana Underground Storage Tank Act

Underground Storage Tank Leak Report -- Inspections -- Sampling

75-11-510. Underground storage tank leak report -- inspections -- sampling. (1) If an owner or operator of an underground storage tank discovers or is provided with evidence that a tank may have leaked, the owner or operator shall immediately notify the department that a leak may exist.

(2) (a) An employee or agent of the department, at any reasonable time and upon presentation of credentials, may enter upon and inspect any property, premises, or place at which:

(i) regulated substances are or have been stored in underground storage tanks if the department has reason to suspect that the tanks are not in compliance with the provisions of this part or rules adopted under this part; or

(ii) records pertinent to the regulated substances activities are maintained.

(b) The employee or agent of the department may have access to and may copy any records relating to the regulated substances for the purposes of developing rules under this part or enforcing the provisions of this part, rules adopted under this part, or a permit or an order issued under this part.

(3) In the course of an inspection under this section, the employee or agent of the department may take samples of any regulated substance or suspected regulated substance, including samples from any soil or ground water. If the employee or agent of the department takes a sample of any regulated substance or suspected regulated substance, the employee or agent shall, prior to leaving the premises, give to the owner, operator, or agent in charge a receipt describing the sample taken and, if requested, a portion of each sample equal in volume or weight to the portion retained. If any analysis is made of the samples, a copy of the results of the analysis must be furnished to the owner, operator, or agent in charge.

History: En. Sec. 6, Ch. 112, L. 1997.