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National Information |
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Superfund Program
Anaconda Co. Smelter Site
 Site Type: Active NPL City: Anaconda Zip code: 59711 EPA ID#: MTD093291656 Congressional District: At Large |
Site Updates
Please read the 2006 Annual Update for a description of Work Planned for 2007, recently started work, ongoing cleanup and new documents. This update also includes an updated list of site contacts. The 2007 Annual Update is coming soon!Planned activities for 2007 include:
- Opportunity Ponds. Continue capping activities in C cells. Continue to receive materials from the Streamside Tailings Operable Unit (SSTOU) and place in the B cells. Continue surfactant application for dust mitigation. A December 2006 fact sheet describes what's being done about blowing dust A September 2007 fact sheet contains an update of work on the ponds including details of the transportation of Milltown sediments to the Ponds.
- Railroad Remediation. Begin removal of the West Valley line after abandonment. Begin capping of main line through Anaconda.
- Residential Yard Remediation. Complete scheduled residential yard remediation within Anaconda and the Smelter Area of Concern. Continue to sample yards as requested by residents. Residents who would like to have their yards or attic dust sampled may call Luke Pokorny at Atlantic Richfield in Butte at 723-1832.
- Attics. Sample attics for contaminated dust as requested by residents.
- West Galen. Continue work initiated in 2005 to treat upland soils.
- Old Works Industrial Area. Continue removal of contaminated waste / soil within the remainder of Industrial Park. Continue installation of industrial covers on other parcels within the Arbiter Industrial Complex.
- Drag Strip Maintenance. Initiate capping of areas requiring maintenance and improve drainage controls within the Drag Strip area.
The results indicate the remedies are protective of human health and the environment, cleanup areas are generally functioning as designed, and were managed and maintained appropriately. A few deficiencies that do not immediately impact the protectiveness of the remedy were noted. The entire five year review document is available on this page under Site Documents.
Site Description
The site is located at the southern end of the Deer Lodge Valley, at and near
the location of the former Anaconda Minerals Company (AMC) ore processing facilities.
In September 1983, the EPA placed the area surrounding the smelter on the Superfund
National Priorities List (NPL). Consulting with the State of Montana and coordinating
with ARCO, EPA began investigations into the extent of contamination. Since then,
removals and cleanup actions have reduced human health risks at the site. ARCO
merged with AMC in 1977 and is the Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) at the
site. ARCO's liability and EPA's costs are the subject of ongoing litigation.
The site covers an area of approximately 300 square miles. It has a temperate climate and includes a variety of terrain - from steep slope uplands to level valley floors. There are also a variety of creeks and drainages. Major mining-related features at the site include two very large tailings ponds (the Anaconda Ponds and the Opportunity Ponds) and the former Anaconda smelter stack. At 585 feet tall, the stack is a local landmark and is the largest freestanding brick chimney in the world. There are also two communities (Anaconda and Opportunity within the site footprint. US Interstate 90 and the Clark Fork River border the site. The site is divided into a number of Operable Units OUs (see Cleanup Progress). Two of the OUs (Anaconda Regional Waste Water & Soil (ARWW&S) and the Old Works/East Anaconda Development Area) are further divided into smaller units.
Site Risks
The processing facilities at the site were developed to remove copper from ore mined in Butte from about 1884 through 1980. Milling and smelting produced wastes with high concentrations of arsenic, as well as copper, cadmium, lead and zinc. These contaminants pose potential risks to human health, to life in nearby streams, and to plants and animals in adjacent lands over some 300 square miles. In addition to the millions of cubic yards of tailings, furnace slag, flue dust, and square miles of soil contaminated by airborne wastes, millions of gallons of ground water have been polluted from wastes and soils. Arsenic is the primary COC and drives the remediation.
Cleanup Progress
Anaconda Smelter Demolition and Initial Stabilization ActionsFrom 1983-1986, EPA oversaw smelter demolition and initial stabilization efforts. In May 1986, EPA temporarily relocated families with small children. In 1987-1988, all Mill Creek residents were permanently relocated. The Mill Creek area was later cleaned up, graded and replanted in 1999.
Anaconda Yards Time Critical Removal Action
From 1991-1992, under an emergency removal action, arsenic contaminated soils were cleaned up in three Anaconda neighborhoods: Teresa Ann Terrace, Elkhorn Apartments and Cedar Park Homes.
Arbiter Non-Time Critical Removal Action
In 1994, approximately 275,000 cubic yards of waste material (including arsenic, cadmium, lead and zinc) from the Arbiter Plant were dug up, and moved to a repository on Smelter Hill.
Beryllium Non-Time Critical Removal Action
In 1994, excavation and disposal of previously disposed wastes and contaminated materials from a former beryllium flake metal pilot plant and a beryllium oxide pilot plant was completed. The wastes were sent to the Smelter Hill repository.
Old Works Stabilization Removal Action
In 1992, EPA and ARCO began to address immediate concerns about contaminants released into Warm Springs Creek by stabilizing the Red Sands adjacent to the Creek, repairing breaks in the levees and installing fencing to limit access.
Flue Dust Remedial Action
In 1991, EPA decided to stabilize the Flue dust (containing copper, arsenic and cadmium) with cement and lime, and then place treated materials in a repository. Treatment of over 500,000 cubic yards of flue dust was finished in December 1993.
Old Works/East Anaconda Development Area Remedial Action
EPA selected a remedy in 1994 for this OU which has been divided into sub-areas:
- Golf Course (construction completed in 1996, golf course opened to the public in 1997)
- Red Sands (construction completed in 1998)
- East Anaconda Yards and Aspen Hills (construction completed in 1998)
- Mill Creek (construction completed in 1999)
- Drag Strip (construction completed in 1999)
- Industrial Area (initiated in 2003). Remedial action will include removal, cover, and/or revegetation of remaining waste and contaminated soils. Construction is underway and should be finished by 2010.
EPA selected a remedial action for addressing remaining residential yards and railroads/commercial properties in 1996. This OU has been divided into sub-areas:
- 1. Residential soils (ongoing)
2. Historic Railroad Beds and Commercial and Industrial areas (Adjacent to Railroad Areas)
3. Interior/Attic Dust
Remedial action within commercial areas adjacent to the railroad will include removal, cover, and/or revegetation of waste and contaminated soils.
Anaconda Regional Water, Waste and Soils Remedial Action This last OU addresses all remaining issues. EPA signed a Record of Decision in 1998. The OU has been divided into 15 Remedial Design Units (RDUs):
- 1. Stucky Ridge
2. Lost Creek
3. Smelter Hill Uplands
4. Anaconda Ponds (construction completed)
5. Railroad/Blue Lagoon
6. South Opportunity
7. North Opportunity
8. Opportunity Ponds
9. Fluvial Tailings
10. Warm Springs Creek
11. Cashman Concentrate (construction completed)
12. Slag
13. Old Works Groundwater
14. Smelter Hill Facility
15. Mt. Haggin Uplands
Community Involvement
Community involvement is integral to the cleanup process at Superfund sites.In addition to outreach efforts (meetings, fact sheets, web sites, etc.), EPA awarded a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) to the Arrowhead Foundation in Anaconda. With these funds, the Arrowhead foundation hires the Anaconda Environmental Education Institute (AEEI) to review EPA studies and cleanup work and to relay their findings to the larger community. The TAG group is focusing on economic redevelopment and site reuse.
The State of Montana and ARCO have settled some of the continuing natural resource damage lawsuit issues, and an advisory group appointed by Montana's governor is educating the public and reviewing proposals for restoring resources.
See the Site Documents section below for the fact sheet and the annual updates.
Redevelopment/Reuse
Smelter investigations and cleanups have been part of an economic rebirth in this former company town. All cleanups are focused on being protective, while still allowing (and fostering) redevelopment. This is accomplished, in large part, by the use of institutional controls (ICs) for development of land which has a remedy in place. These include a Development Permit System and Master Plan/Growth Policy for all of the properties within the Smelter Overlay Area.Perhaps the greatest example of reuse and redevelopment is the construction of the Old Works Golf Course. This can be seen on EPA's in the Old Works/East Anaconda Development Area. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, the course has been reborn on the site of Anaconda's historic century old copper smelter. The first course ever built on a Federal EPA Superfund site; it incorporates many historic relics in its design. Old Works is quickly building a reputation as one of the premiere, daily fee golf experiences in the Northwest region. The golf course was designed by Jack Nicklaus, and a unique visual feature is the use of ground black smelter slag in place of sand in the sand traps.
It is featured as part of EPA's Superfund 20th Anniversary Report
Site Documents
Note: the following documents are Adobe PDF documents (about PDF files)
Fact Sheets
- 2007 Update: Focus on Opportunity Ponds
(PDF, 2 pp, 602K)
2007 Update: Anaconda Smelter Contacts and Partners (PDF, 2 pp, 63K)
2006 Annual Site Update (PDF, 4 pp, 463K)
2006 Dust Fact Sheet (PDF, 2 pp, 728 K)
2005 Annual Site Update (PDF, 4 pp, 656K)
2006 Update of the Five-Year Review (PDF, 3 pp, 42K)
Technical Documents
- Five-Year Review, September 2005 (PDF, 54 pp, 153K)
Contacts
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EPA Charles Coleman, Remedial Project ManagerRegion 8, Montana Office, Federal Building 10 West 15th Street, Suite 3200 Helena, MT 59626 (406) 457-5038 Email: coleman.charles@epa.gov Wendy Thomi, Community Involvement Coordinator |
Montana Department of Environmental Quality Larry Scusa, Project ManagerP.O. Box 200901 Helena, MT 59620 (406) 841-5036 Email: lscusa@mt.gov Catherine Lecours, Project Manager Joe Griffin, Project Manager |
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Community Group Technical Assistance Grant GroupArrowhead Foundation P.O. Box 842 Anaconda, MT 59711 (406) 563-5538 |
View Documents at: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Hearst Free Library |
