75-10-206. Variance. (1) A person may apply to the board for a variance from rules adopted by the department pursuant to 75-10-204, except for rules adopted pursuant to 75-10-204(6). The board may grant a variance if it finds that:

(a) failure to comply with the rules does not result in a danger to public health or safety; or

(b) compliance with the rules from which a variance is sought would produce hardship without producing benefits to the health and safety of the public that outweigh the hardship.

(2) A variance may not be granted pursuant to this section except after a hearing pursuant to the Montana Administrative Procedure Act and consideration by the board of the relative interests of the applicant and owners of the property likely to be affected by the waste disposal system under consideration.

(3) This section may not be construed as relieving the board from the obligation to comply with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, or as allowing the board to grant a variance less restrictive than that act.