75-10-404. Powers of department. (1) The department may:

(a) administer and enforce the provisions of this part, rules implementing this part, and orders and permits issued pursuant to this part;

(b) conduct and publish studies on hazardous wastes and hazardous waste management;

(c) initiate, conduct, and support research, demonstration projects, and investigation, as its resources may allow, and coordinate state agency research programs pertaining to hazardous waste management;

(d) accept and administer grants from the federal government and from other sources, public and private; and

(e) abate public nuisances that affect the public health and welfare or the environment and that arise from or in connection with the past or present handling or disposal of any hazardous waste.

(2) The department shall integrate all provisions of this part with other laws administered by the department to avoid unnecessary duplication. Furthermore, the department shall coordinate its activities under this part with the program administered by the department of agriculture under the Montana Pesticides Act, the programs administered by the department of environmental quality related to mining and mine reclamation, the program administered by the department of public service regulation related to hazardous material transportation, and provisions of the Montana Major Facility Siting Act. The integration and coordination must be effected only to the extent that it can be done in a manner consistent with the goals and policies of this part and the other laws referred to in this section.

History: En. Sec. 11, Ch. 358, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 386, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 195, Ch. 418, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 112, L. 1997.