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HB48 • 2025

Exempt wastewater ponds from dam safety act

Exempt wastewater ponds from dam safety act

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Ken Walsh
Last action
2025-04-18
Official status
Chapter Number Assigned
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed information on enforcement or monitoring mechanisms.

Exempting Wastewater Ponds from Dam Safety Rules

This law removes wastewater ponds used for public sewage systems from the state's dam safety regulations.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes Montana’s law to say that dams used for public sewage and disposal systems are not covered by the dam safety act.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People and organizations that manage public sewage systems with wastewater ponds.
  • The Department of Environmental Quality which regulates these systems.

Terms To Know

Dams
Structures built to hold back water, often used for storing or controlling water flow.
Wastewater ponds
Ponds designed to store and treat wastewater before it is released into the environment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify how these changes will be enforced or monitored.
  • It's unclear if this exemption applies only to certain types of public sewage systems.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-18 HOUSE

    Chapter Number Assigned

  2. 2025-04-17 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Governor

  3. 2025-04-09 SENATE

    (S) Signed by President

  4. 2025-04-09 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Governor

  5. 2025-04-07 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Speaker

  6. 2025-03-28 HOUSE

    (H) Returned from Enrolling

  7. 2025-03-27 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  8. 2025-03-27 SENATE

    (S) 3rd Reading Concurred

  9. 2025-03-27 HOUSE

    (H) Sent to Enrolling

  10. 2025-03-26 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  11. 2025-03-26 SENATE

    (S) 2nd Reading Concurred

  12. 2025-03-24 SENATE

    (S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred

  13. 2025-03-21 SENATE

    (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

  14. 2025-03-07 SENATE

    (S) Hearing

  15. 2025-02-04 SENATE

    (S) Referred to Committee

  16. 2025-01-22 SENATE

    (S) First Reading

  17. 2025-01-21 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  18. 2025-01-21 HOUSE

    (H) 3rd Reading Passed

  19. 2025-01-21 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Senate

  20. 2025-01-20 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  21. 2025-01-20 HOUSE

    (H) 2nd Reading Passed

  22. 2025-01-16 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Report--Bill Passed

  23. 2025-01-15 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

  24. 2025-01-06 HOUSE

    (H) First Reading

  25. 2025-01-06 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing

  26. 2024-12-20 HOUSE

    (H) Referred to Committee

  27. 2024-12-09 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester

  28. 2024-12-09 HOUSE

    (H) Introduced

  29. 2024-12-05 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

  30. 2024-12-04 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Assembly

  31. 2024-12-03 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review

  32. 2024-12-02 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing

  33. 2024-11-26 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Edit

  34. 2024-11-25 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  35. 2024-10-08 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Official Summary Text

Exempt wastewater ponds from dam safety act

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 48
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 48
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT REVISING EXEMPTIONS FROM THE DAM SAFETY ACT; PROVIDING THAT DAMS USED FOR
PUBLIC SEWAGE AND DISPOSAL SYSTEMS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE DAM SAFETY ACT; AND
AMENDING SECTION 85-15-107, MCA.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 85-15-107, MCA, is amended to read:
"85-15-107. Exemptions. (1) The provisions of 85-15-108 through 85-15-110, 85-15-209 through 85-
15-216, 85-15-305, 85-15-401, 85-15-502, and 85-15-503 do not apply to:
(a) dams subject to a permit issued pursuant to 82-4-335 for the period during which the dam is
subject to the permit;
(b) federal dams and reservoirs;
(c) dams and reservoirs licensed and subject to inspection by the federal energy regulatory
commission; or
(d) dams that are required to obtain a certificate of compliance pursuant to 75-20-201 for the
period during which the dam is subject to the certificate.
(2) The provisions of 85-15-108 through 85-15-110, 85-15-209 through 85-15-216, 85-15-401, 85-
15-502, and 85-15-503 do not apply to nonfederal dams and reservoirs located on federal lands if they are
subject to a dam safety review by a federal agency.
(3) The provisions of 85-15-305 do not apply to dams and reservoirs at a national priority list site
as defined by the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(CERCLA), Public Law 96-510.
(4) The provisions of 85-15-108 through 85-15-110, 85-15-209 through 85-15-216, 85-15-401, 85-
15-502, and 85-15-503 do not apply to dams used for a public sewage system or a public sewage disposal
****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 48
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 48
ENROLLED BILL
system as regulated by the department of environmental quality pursuant to Title 75, chapter 6, part 1, and Title
76, chapter 4, part 1."
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 48, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
HOUSE BILL NO. 48
INTRODUCED BY K. WALSH
BY REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION
AN ACT REVISING EXEMPTIONS FROM THE DAM SAFETY ACT; PROVIDING THAT DAMS USED FOR
PUBLIC SEWAGE AND DISPOSAL SYSTEMS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE DAM SAFETY ACT; AND
AMENDING SECTION 85-15-107, MCA.