Montana Code Annotated
Part 2. Standards, Permits, and Variances
75-2-231. Medical waste and hazardous waste incineration -- additional permit requirements

75-2-231. Medical waste and hazardous waste incineration -- additional permit requirements. (1) Because of the potential emission of chlorinated dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and carcinogens as a result of the incineration of medical waste and hazardous waste and the potential health risk these chemicals pose, the department shall adopt rules establishing additional permit requirements for commercial medical waste and commercial hazardous waste incinerators. For the purposes of this section, the term "commercial medical waste incinerator" does not include hospital or medical facility incinerators that primarily incinerate medical waste generated onsite. The department shall adopt rules that:
(a) regulate the type and amount of plastic and other materials in the medical waste stream and hazardous waste stream that may be a source of chlorine, in order to minimize the potential emission of chlorinated dioxins, furans, and carcinogens;
(b) require commercial medical waste and commercial hazardous waste incinerators to achieve the lowest achievable emission rate to prevent the public health risk from air emissions or ambient concentrations from exceeding the negligible risk standard required by 75-2-215 and any applicable federal allowable intake standards, as determined pursuant to subsection (3), for dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and other hazardous air pollutants;
(c) implement the requirements of subsection (2), including establishing procedures and standards for the collection of high-quality scientific information and for the submission of the information by the applicant;
(d) establish procedures for the monitoring, testing, and inspection of:
(i) the medical waste stream and hazardous waste stream, including heavy metals and possible precursors to the formation of chlorinated dioxins, furans, and carcinogens;
(ii) combustion, including destruction and removal efficiencies; and
(iii) emissions, including continuous emission monitoring and air pollution control devices; and
(e) are necessary to implement the provisions of this section and to coordinate the requirements under this section with the requirements contained in 75-2-211 and 75-2-215.
(2) A person who applies for an air quality permit or alteration pursuant to 75-2-211 and 75-2-215 for a commercial medical waste incinerator or commercial hazardous waste incinerator shall provide, to the satisfaction of the department, the following information:
(a) a dispersion model of emissions, using approved methods, and those studies that are necessary to identify the potential community exposure;
(b) an analysis of the potential pathways for human exposure to air contaminants, particularly chlorinated dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and other carcinogens, including the potential for inhalation, ingestion, and physical contact by the affected communities; and
(c) a quantitative analysis of the estimated total possible human exposure to chlorinated dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and carcinogens for the affected communities.
(3) The department may not issue or alter an air quality permit pursuant to this chapter until the department has determined, based upon an analysis of the information provided by the applicant pursuant to subsection (2) and other necessary and relevant data, that the public health risk from air emissions or ambient concentrations of chlorinated dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and other hazardous air pollutants will not exceed the negligible risk standard required by 75-2-215 and any applicable federal standards for allowable intake, as determined by the department after a review of established and relevant federal standards and guidelines.
(4) This section may not be construed in any way to:
(a) require the department to promulgate standards for the allowable intake of any substances for which the federal government has not established standards;
(b) allow the department to promulgate standards for the allowable intake of any substances for which the federal government has established standards that are more stringent than the federal standards; or
(c) limit or otherwise impair the duty of the department under 75-2-215 to determine that emissions and ambient concentrations will constitute a negligible risk as required by 75-2-215(3)(d), including emissions and ambient concentrations of dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and carcinogens, before issuing an air quality permit pursuant to 75-2-211 and 75-2-215.
History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 639, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 498, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 23, Ch. 324, L. 2021.