Public Notice: CWA-08-2026-0001: City of Cut Bank; Consent Agreement and Opportunity to Comment

Summary

The EPA is providing notice of an opportunity for the public to comment on an expedited penalty action and consent agreement (Consent Agreement) pertaining to a water treatment plant owned and operated by the City of Cut Bank, which discharges wastewater in Cut Bank, MT. In the Consent Agreement, the EPA alleges that the City of Cut Bank violated a Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Wastewater Discharges Associated with Drinking Water Production in Indian Country.

Background

The EPA alleges that the City of Cut Bank violated permit requirements by failing to submit quarterly discharge monitoring reports and two annual reports within required timeframes and failing to document weekly inspections of the backwash ponds. Under the Consent Agreement, the City of Cut Bank has agreed to pay a civil administrative penalty of $1,010 to resolve its federal civil penalty liability for these alleged violations. Before issuing an order approving the Consent Agreement and assessing this penalty, the EPA is providing an opportunity for the public to submit written comments and to participate in any hearing. Please see section 309(g) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g), for more details.

Public Comments

The EPA encourages the public to comment on the Consent Agreement. The Consent Agreement will be available for review for a period of 30 days after the publication of this notice. After the close of this comment period, the EPA expects to respond to comments. The EPA will, if appropriate in view of any comments received, enter an order approving the Consent Agreement. The order, if any, would be issued at least ten (10) days after the close of the public comment period and at least forty (40) days after publication or posting of this notice, in accordance with 40 C.F.R. § 22.45(b) and (c)(3). The Consent Agreement is available for review by contacting the person listed in the "How to Comment" box on the right side of this page.

Comments must include the commentor’s name and complete mailing address as well as a statement that the comment submitter wishes to participate in any future proceedings in this matter. Please also reference the EPA Docket Number for this matter: CWA-08-2026-0001. 

Applicants or Respondents

Related Documents

• CWA-08-2026-0001: City of Cut Bank; Consent Agreement and Opportunity to Comment (pdf) (75.89 KB, September 24, 2025)
  In the Consent Agreement, the EPA alleges that the City of Cut Bank violated a Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Wastewater Discharges Associated with Drinking Water Production in Indian Country.