State of Montana Newsroom
DEQ Releases Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Subsurface Wastewater Treatment Systems
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has prepared a draft programmatic environmental assessment (EA) for construction and operation of subsurface wastewater treatment systems and is accepting public comment through May 1, 2026. Information about how to submit public comment is available on DEQ’s website.
The term subsurface wastewater treatment system refers to water treatment systems ranging from conventional septic systems to advanced systems that exceed drinking water standards. A programmatic EA is an analysis of environmental impacts of a proposed action, program, or policy used when the activity has similar environmental impacts regardless of where it occurs.
Because the potential impacts resulting from qualifying subsurface wastewater treatment systems are similar across Montana, DEQ has prepared a programmatic EA. Subsurface wastewater treatment systems that qualify for this programmatic EA must include fewer than 300 drainfields and disturb fewer than 10 acres of land. Systems that may have the potential to impact surface water or that require a Montana Ground Water Pollution Control System permit would not be eligible for the programmatic EA. Proposals with anticipated impacts that fall outside the scope of the programmatic EA would require additional, project-specific environmental review by DEQ.
If adopted, the programmatic EA would take the place of preparing separate, project-specific EAs for individual qualifying subsurface wastewater treatment system proposals. Applicants proposing a new and/or amended subsurface wastewater treatment system would still be required to submit all applicable DEQ applications for review, and DEQ would evaluate each proposal for compliance with applicable statutes and rules and for consistency with the impacts analyzed in the programmatic EA.
The Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) provides agencies discretion to determine when preparation of a programmatic review is appropriate for related or repetitive actions, programs, or policies. The programmatic EA will be used by DEQ to appropriately disclose impacts associated with qualifying subsurface wastewater treatment system proposals, promoting both efficient review and informed agency decisions under MEPA.
To submit public comment or view the draft programmatic EA, please visit the DEQ’s website.