- (1) Once every five years after a facility is bonded an owner may request a reduction of the required bond amount by submitting an amended decommissioning plan to the department. If the department finds that the amended decommissioning plan reduces the department’s estimated cost to complete decommissioning, the department may approve reducing the bond. Prior to denying the request in whole or in part, the department shall consult with the owner.
- (2) The department shall review each decommissioning plan and bond amount every five years after a facility is bonded, or when a new owner submits a revised decommissioning plan. The department may increase the amount of the bond if the facility has expanded or if the cost to decommission a facility has otherwise increased. The department shall notify the owner of any proposed bond increase and provide the owner an opportunity for an informal conference on the proposal. If the department determines that the bond amount must be increased, it shall mail to the owner a written justification for the increase. The owner shall increase the bond amount within 90 days after the date the written justification was mailed.
Authorizing statute(s): 75-26-310, MCA
Implementing statute(s): 75-26-304, MCA
History: NEW, 2018 MAR p. 94, Eff. 1/13/18; AMD, 2020 MAR p. 957, Eff. 5/30/20; AMD, 2026 MAR, Notice No. 2026-271, Eff. 5/23/26.