EPA released the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site Proposed Cleanup Plan(pdf) (35 pp, 7 MB, ) on June 1, 2023 to identify a long-term cleanup proposal. The 90-day public comment period for the Proposed Cleanup Plan concluded on August 31, 2023.
| City | Columbia Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Flathead County |
| State | Montana |
| Coordinates | 48.39166, -114.13651 |
Anaconda Aluminum Co Columbia Falls Reduction Plant 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: Listed on NPL. This site is on EPA's National Priorities List, which identifies the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country. Listing triggers federal cleanup authority and funding under CERCLA (the Superfund law).
EPA has identified 10 contaminants of concern at this site, including aluminum, barium, cadmium. Contamination has been detected in soil, groundwater, surface water, sludge, liquid waste, sediment.
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.