BLACK EAGLE, Mont. (May 7, 2025) --During the week of May 5, Atlantic Richfield, under the direction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will begin the second year of yard cleanups in the community of Black Eagle to address lead- and arsenic-affected soils resulting from 80 years of smelting activities at the former ACM Smelter and Refinery.
| City | Black Eagle |
|---|---|
| County | Cascade County |
| State | Montana |
| Coordinates | 47.52861, -111.24648 |
Acm Smelter And Refinery is a federal Superfund site in Montana. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.
Current status: Cleanup underway. Active cleanup is underway, meaning EPA has approved a remediation plan and work is in progress. Cleanup timelines vary widely — some sites take decades depending on contamination depth, groundwater involvement, and funding availability.
If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.