Learn the Issues

This page shows all of the pages at www.epa.gov that are tagged with Learn the Issues.

  • Operable Units and Cleanup Progress

    Cleaning up Superfund sites is a complex, multi-phase process. View site milestones and estimated dates for cleanup.

  • Frequent Questions

    Frequently asked questions about the Smurfit-Stone Mill Superfund Site - broken down by topic.

  • Health & Environment

    Learn about the risks at the site and site contamination at Smurfit-Stone Mill Superfund Site

  • Smurfit-Stone Mill

    Provides updates on site investigation and cleanup progress, contaminant and health information, redevelopment planning, documents and opportunities for the Frenchtown community to get involved.

  • Site Documents

    View all publicly available documents for Smurfit-Stone Mill Superfund site located in Frenchtown, Montana

  • What are the contaminants of potential concern on site?

    The contaminants of potential concern on site include arsenic, manganese, and dioxins/furans in the shallow aquifer (groundwater) below the former Smurfit-Stone Mill Site. PCBs have been detected in limited quantities but do not contribute unacceptable risk in current or hypothetical future use scenarios of the site. Chromium has been detected…

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  • Is the water in Frenchtown contaminated by the Smurfit-Stone Mill site?

    No, it is not. Drinking water is drawn from a deeper source that is not affected by the contaminants in the shallow aquifer directly under the Smurfit-Stone Mill site.

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  • What contaminants are found in the shallow aquifer?

    Right now, the levels of arsenic and manganese in the contaminated shallow aquifer below the site are too high for the water to be used as a drinking water source. It is important to note that the contaminated shallow aquifer is not currently a drinking water source, nor does it…

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  • Is Smurfit-Stone Mill a Superfund site?

    While the Smurfit-Stone Mill Site is not listed on the National Priorities List, EPA is still addressing the site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Pursuant to CERCLA, the site will be evaluated with a remedial investigation/feasibility study, then EPA will issue a Proposed Plan and…

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  • How long has EPA been investigating the site?

    EPA started investigating the site in 2011. In 2015, the PRPs entered into a legal agreement called an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study on the site. The remedial investigation began that year and is expected to be finalized in a…

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  • Will the buildings ever be torn down?

    The buildings are privately owned, so decisions about their demolition fall to the property owner. If the owner demolishes the buildings during the CERCLA process, the owner should work with EPA to ensure that demolition will not impact any aspect of the remedial process.

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  • What stage of the Superfund process is the site in?

    The site is in the Feasibility Study phase of the Superfund process. During this phase, options for cleaning up the site are evaluated. At the end of this phase, the EPA will release a Proposed Plan detailing alternatives for cleanup as well as EPA’s preferred cleanup. This Proposed Plan will…

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  • Where can I access the risk assessments?

    They are available in the Site Documents & Data section and can also be accessed below. 2017 Human Health Risk Assessment for OU1 (PDF) (8.3 MB, About PDF) 2017 Final Ecological-Risk Assessment for OU1 (PDF) (7 MB) Human Health Risk Assessment for the Smurfit-Stone/Frenchtown Mill Operable Unit 2 Site Located…

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  • Announcements

    3,200-acre Smurfit-Stone Mill site is located three miles southeast of Frenchtown, Montana. A paper and pulp mill operated on site from 1957 to 2010. As part of the Superfund process, EPA divided the Site into three operable units (OUs).

  • What did the risk assessments find?

    EPA completed the risk assessments and found the following: OU1 does not pose a human health or ecological risk concern. OU2 has unacceptable risks for hypothetical future residents and commercial/industrial workers exposed to surface soil and groundwater used as drinking water under an unrestricted land use scenario. Risks are primarily…

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  • What are operable units?

    Sometimes, EPA divides larger sites into smaller pieces called “operable units.” This can help make site investigation and cleanup more efficient. At Smurfit-Stone Mill, there are three operable units. Operable Unit 1 is approximately 1,570 acres. It is and has historically been used largely for agricultural purposes, including cattle grazing…

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  • Community Involvement

    Get Involved and learn about public participation opportunities for the Smurfit-Stone Mill superfund site in Frenchtown, Montana

  • Site Activities

    Smurfit-Stone Mill current site activities in Frenchtown, Montana, including site timeline.

  • Site History

    Learn about the site background for the Smurftit-Stone Mill Superfund Site in Frenchtown, Montana

  • Integrated Planning - Municipality Integrated Plans

    This table is a preliminary list of municipalities that indicated they are developing or have published a full or partial integrated plan.

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