The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has released a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review and comment. The draft EA evaluates the environmental impacts of drilling regulated wells and constructing associated facilities at proposed new locations across Montana. The public has 30 days to submit comments on the draft, which is available for review from August 28 to September 27, 2024.
A Programmatic EA is a comprehensive analysis of the potential environmental effects associated with a set of related actions, programs, or policies, as defined under ARM 17.4.603 (15). This type of assessment offers a broad overview of potential impacts and provides coverage under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) for the entire state.
The proposed Programmatic EA aims to streamline the review process for new water system applications by allowing for more efficient and targeted evaluations. It also seeks to enhance communication and collaboration between project owners and regulators, maintaining a robust public notice and comment process.
According to MEPA guidelines, agencies have the discretion to conduct a programmatic review when dealing with repetitive or related actions. Given that the impacts from well drilling are generally consistent across Montana, the DEQ’s draft EA covers common impacts and alternatives associated with well and facility installations.
If approved, the Programmatic EA would replace the individual Environmental Assessments previously required for each new well or facility location. Applicants would still need to submit applications to the DEQ, which would then use a Categorical Exclusion checklist to determine if a project falls within the scope of the Programmatic EA. This checklist ensures that all applications are assessed under the broader EA framework.
Projects with anticipated impacts beyond the scope of the Programmatic EA would necessitate a supplemental review, including additional public comment on a draft supplemental EA.
DEQ remains committed to public involvement throughout the process. All EAs, including this draft Programmatic EA, will be available for public review and feedback before any final decisions are made.
To view the draft programmatic EA, request a hard copy of the document, or learn how to submit comments, visit DEQ’s website at: https://deq.mt.gov/News/publiccomment-folder/engineering-programmatic-08-28-2024.