Clark Fork River Operable Unit

Sampling Demonstration September 2009
Site History
Developments
Upcoming 2009 Activities
Link to Supporting Documents and Reports

Pintlar Mountains

Site History

The Clark Fork River Operable Unit (CFR OU) is part of the Milltown Reservoir/Clark Fork River Superfund Site. The CFR OU includes the Clark Fork River from its headwaters near Warm Springs Creek to Milltown Reservoir, just east of Missoula. The heavy metals (Cadmium, Copper, Zinc, and Lead) and arsenic in the Clark Fork River are from historic mining, milling and smelting processes linked to the Anaconda Company operations in Butte and Anaconda. The majority of the cleanup will occur along a 43 mile stretch of the river from Warm Springs in Anaconda/Deer Lodge County downstream to Garrison in Powell County. This is known as “Reach A.” The primary sources of contamination are tailings mixed with soil in the streambanks and historic floodplain. These sources threaten human health and animal and plant life. The 2004 Record of Decision describes the cleanup approach, or Selected Remedy. In addition to the ROD, the NRDP developed a Restoration Plan to expedite the recovery time for injured aquatic and terrestrial resources in and along the Clark Fork River. To the extent practicable, the Restoration Plan will be combined with the Remedy to maximize the use of resources.

Developments

Remedial/Restoration Design Work Plan
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Department of Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP), with additional oversight from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Parks Service (NPS) for cleanup activities at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch, are designing the remediation and restoration work to be done along 43 miles of the Clark Fork River from Warm Springs in Anaconda/Deer Lodge County downstream to Garrison in Powell County. Cleanup will start in late 2009 or early 2010 and is expected to take 10-12 years.

Consent Decree and Settlement Money
In 2008, 25 years after the state sued the Atlantic Richfield Co. for damage to natural resources, a settlement was reached and a federal judge signed the consent decree. The state received $123 million from ARCO for cleanup and restoration of mining pollution in the Clark Fork River Operable Unit.

Deer Lodge Trestle Sampling and Public Meeting
In the fall of 2008, Powell County residents and others interested parties attended a public meeting coordinated by the Clark Fork River Technical Advisory Council (CFR TAC). DEQ project officers discussed soil sampling taking place in the trestle area. Sampling results showed that, in general, surface contamination is below acceptable levels but there were areas that had high levels of contamination at depth. The DEQ is currently determining an appropriate design for this area and is coordinating the design with Powell County’s future plans for a trail system. DEQ expects construction to begin in summer 2010. It will submit an Invitation for Bids for a Small Construction Contract for this work

Upcoming 2009 Activities

East Side Road Sampling
The DEQ is meeting with East Side Road property owners, surveying vegetation and identifying properties to be included in further investigation. The agency requests information from property owners of areas where things won’t grow or changes in land use, which could require sampling and/or cleanup activities. The DEQ greatly appreciates landowners granting access for sampling and their cooperation during this process. East Side Road properties include residential and agricultural lands that extend from Sager Lane to the city limits of Deer Lodge and encompass the area between the East Side Ditch and historic floodplain.

Remedial River Sampling and Remedial Action
The DEQ plans to sample 3.7 miles of river just downstream of Warm Spring Ponds. Tailings, soils and streambanks will be tested. The DEQ plans to perform sampling in late summer, complete the design in early 2010 and implement construction in summer 2010.

Deer Lodge Residential Sampling
Residential yards within the historical floodplain or historically irrigated from the river have the potential to pose a risk to human health. The DEQ plans to sample yards in Deer Lodge this summer. If unacceptable levels of contamination exist, the DEQ will remediate these yards in summer 2010 (if necessary).

Access Agreement
The DEQ is requesting property owners to sign access agreements to allow the agency on the property to conduct sampling and cleanup. Unlike previous access agreements from ARCO, these are concise, easy to understand documents. Landowner cooperation for sampling and cleanup is appreciated.

Contractors
To be considered during an invitation for bid, a contractor must meet several criteria, including but not limited to being bonded and insured, a registered contractor with the State of Montana and trained (40 hours) in emergency hazardous waste operations (HAZWOPER). The DEQ will develop designs for various stages of the work. When the design is complete, the project will be put out for construction bid on the DEQ website at www.deq.mt.gov. The bid is open for 30 to 60 days. The DEQ will respond to questions and hold a pre-bid conference. Bids are sealed and opened at once in public. The DEQ selects the lowest responsible bidder.

Clark Fork River OU Documents

River Review

River Review will be a regular update to inform and engage the public about developments, plans and activities for the 43 mile, $123 million remediation and restoration. River Review is a collaborative public information piece from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Natural Resource Damage Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Clark Fork River Technical Assistance Committee.

June 2009

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY