EPA to host Public Meeting and Information Session for Billings PCE Superfund Site
Meeting will take place at Broadwater Elementary School on November 1st at 6:00 pm
Billings, Mont. — Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invite Billings, Montana community members to attend a public meeting at Broadwater Elementary School on Wednesday, November 1st at 6:00 pm. The meeting, which will be hosted by EPA staff and contractors and attended by representatives from Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS), will provide residents and stakeholders with updates on the Billings PCE Superfund Site, including current and planned sampling and cleanup efforts.
Primary topics of discussion include an overview of potential contaminants of concern within the Site study area, this fall’s sampling and monitoring efforts, recent time-critical removal activities and the Superfund process. Residents and property owners are welcomed to ask questions throughout the meeting.
Please join EPA at Broadwater Elementary on Wednesday, November 1st at 6:00 pm:
15 Broadwater Ave
Billings, MT 59101
Background
The Billings PCE Superfund Site (Site) consists of a plume of shallow groundwater contamination, consisting mainly of chlorinated solvents from historic laundry and dry-cleaning businesses, extending from 24th and Central Avenue approximately three miles, east-northeast, through several mixed-use neighborhoods to the east of downtown Billings. While groundwater is not used for drinking water in Billings, chlorinated solvents in the groundwater can vaporize and seep into homes and businesses, causing potential indoor air concerns that could adversely affect human health.
In September 2021, EPA added the Site to the Superfund National Priorities List, making the Site eligible for federal funding to expand environmental investigation and cleanup activities. Since then, EPA has worked with the City of Billings, state-level agencies and contractors to conduct cleanup efforts, sample groundwater and indoor air and characterize the extent of the groundwater contamination. Major highlights from this year include screening 146 structures with EPA’s mobile laboratory, sampling existing groundwater wells and 12 existing residential irrigation wells and installing vapor mitigation systems for 15 impacted structures. Another ten vapor mitigation system installations are planned beginning November 1st. EPA is developing a proposed plan to address the indoor air exposure pathway and will continue to engage the community in the Superfund process.
Information about the Site, including timelines, operable units and cleanup efforts, is available on the EPA Superfund page.