Montana Title 75. Environmental Protection § 75-5-621. Emergencies

(1) Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, if the department finds that a person is committing or is about to commit an act in violation of this chapter or an order or rule issued under this chapter that, if it occurs or continues, will cause substantial pollution the harmful effects of which will not be remedied immediately after the commission or cessation of the act, the department may order the person to stop, avoid, or moderate the act so that the substantial injury will not occur. The order is effective immediately upon receipt by the person to whom it is directed, unless the department provides otherwise.

(2) Notice of the order must conform to the requirements of 75-5-611(1) so far as practicable. The notice must indicate that the order is an emergency order.

(3) Upon issuing an order, the department shall fix a place and time for a hearing before the board, not later than 5 days after issuing the order unless the person to whom the order is directed requests a later time. The department may deny a request for a later time if it finds that the person to whom the order is directed is not complying with the order. The hearing must be conducted in the manner specified in 75-5-611. As soon as practicable after the hearing, the board shall affirm, modify, or set aside the order of the department. The order of the board must be accompanied by the information required in 75-5-611(6). An action for review of the order of the board may be initiated in the manner specified in 75-5-641. Except as provided in 81-9-240, the initiation of an action or taking of an appeal may not stay the effectiveness of the order unless the court finds that the board did not have reasonable cause to issue an order under this section.