Idaho Pole

National Information

Regional Information

 Site 
            Information

Site Description
Site Risk
Cleanup Progress
Community Involvement
Site Documents
Contacts

National Priorities List (NPL) History

Proposed Date
October 15, 1984

Final Date
June 10, 1986

Superfund Program

Bozeman, Montana, Gallatin County, Congressional District-At Large
CERCLIS ID-MTD006232276

Site Description

The Idaho Pole Company began treating wood products with creosote in 1946 at this 50 acre site in Bozeman. In 1952, the company switched to pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the treating process. The facility closed in 1997.

The site is bordered on the north and west by residential and industrial areas. Agricultural and residential areas lie to the south and east. The nearest home is less than one half mile from the site. About 1,250 people live within three miles and use ground water as a drinking water source. Ground water in the area is shallow and flows north to northwest, discharging into Rocky Creek. The State found quantities of PCP in a tributary of Rocky Creek in 1978.

Site Risk

The facility has a history of contamination problems with surface water discharge. Past spills and disposal practices resulted in soil, groundwater and surface water contamination with PCP, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxins.

Ditches and trenches on the site contained various forms of dioxins and organic compounds. Accidental ingestion of or direct contact with contaminated ground water, soil or surface water were potential health risks. Surface water runoff from contaminated areas on the site could harm Rocky Creek.

After its 1978 investigation, the State issued a Compliance Order requiring the Idaho Pole Company to eliminate discharges into Rocky Creek and to stop discharging waste in areas where it was likely to pollute state waters. The company built an interceptor trench along a portion of the property line to halt some of the PCP from entering the ground water. In 1983, EPA and the State sampled the trench and found that PCP was moving away from the plant. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in June 1986.

Media Affected	Contaminants	Source of Contamination
Ground water, sediment, surface water, soils	PCP, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxins	Wood product treatment

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Cleanup Progress

CLEANUP: A JOINT EFFORT

Federal and state agencies, together with the Potentially Responsible Parties, are addressing the cleanup of the Idaho Pole site in two stages: immediate actions and a single long-term cleanup effort for the entire site.

Idaho Pole installed and is sampling 15 monitoring wells at the site. Sludges produced in vats were placed in drums and transported to a licensed hazardous waste disposal site. The interceptor trench and absorbent pad system, recovers oily liquids from the ground water prior to leaving the site.

The State of Montana began an intensive study of soil and water pollution in mid-1990. This investigation determined the nature and extent of contamination at the site and recommended the best strategies for final cleanup

CLEANUP CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE

A Record of Decision selecting the site remedy was issued in September 1992. The remedy consists of biological treatment of contaminated soil and ground water. Soil was excavated from the former roundhouse area, from the area north of the plant buildings and from the pasture area north of Interstate 90. Excavated soil was placed in a land treatment unit (LTU), where contaminants are treated by naturally occurring microorganisms.

Ground water is treated at the surface and re-injected after oxygen and nutrients are added. Residential wells will continue to be sampled.

SOIL EXCAVATED

The Idaho Pole Company completed the soil excavation portion of the cleanup in 1995. The company dug up soils and constructed a land treatment unit. The groundwater treatment system began operation in February 1997. In summer 1999, the Company demolished and disposed of structures, and excavated and treated contaminated soil from underneath the demolished structures.

EPA has conducted a five-year review of the cleanup and has determined that the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment.

SYSTEM REDUCES CONTAMINATION

Installation of a ground water treatment system and interceptor trench has successfully reduced the migration of wastes through the ground water at the Idaho Pole Company site. Contaminated soils have been removed from contact with ground water and have been biologically treated. The land treatment unit was closed in 2002.

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