DEQ now has ombudsman to assist in compliance

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has a new Small Business Environmental Assistance Program Manager and Small Business Ombudsman. Darrick Turner’s job is to assist small businesses with environmental compliance issues while helping them to understand environmental regulations. 

Turner has a diversified background with experience in a variety of environmental fields. 

In addition to his work at DEQ, he is an instructor for the National Environmental Management Academy, providing continuing education for environmental professionals throughout the country. 

Turner’s role at DEQ includes assisting Montana’s regulated businesses as an advocate and educator about regulatory compliance. 

The mission of the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program is to help Montana businesses to understand and comply with environmental regulations and — when possible — to go beyond the regulations to prevent pollution and improve environmental quality. The program is designed as separate and non-regulatory while still within DEQ. 

“This position acts as an intermediary between DEQ and a business.” Turner said recently. “I’m here to help and support small businesses.”

Business owners and managers can contact Turner with concerns, large and small, at 406-841-5230, or call the toll-free Environmental Assistance Hotline at: 1-800-433-8773. 

Turner’s email is: dturner2@mt.gov. 

More information is available at on the DEQ Website at www.deq.mt.gov.

The DEQ respects the public and recognize the value it places on the environment and its interest in the work of DEQ. 

Therefore, the DEQ encourages public input to the analyses, decision making and all other aspects of DEQ’s work. 

The DEQ will provide the public with analyses and the implications of DEQ’s decisions and any other information the citizens want within legal constraints.