Anaconda Co Smelter

⚠ Superfund · Cleanup underway

Frequently Asked Questions About Sampling Q: Is my home eligible for sampling? A: If you are in the area of the Anaconda Superfund Overlay (see map below, within the magenta area), you can request sampling by visiting Community Soils Operable Unit Soil Sampling Request ( https://tinyurl.com/csousampling ).

Location

CityAnaconda
CountyDeer Lodge County
StateMontana
Coordinates46.11666, -112.91500

Contaminants of concern

Contaminated media

Cleanup timeline

  1. Initial Assessment Completed — 08/01/1982
  2. Proposed to the National Priorities List — 12/30/1982
  3. Finalized on the National Priorities List — 09/08/1983
  4. Remedial Investigation Started — 07/01/1986
  5. Remedy Selected — 10/02/1987
  6. Remedial Action Started — 01/07/1988
  7. Final Remedial Action Started — 12/16/2022
  8. Construction Completed — Not Yet Achieved
  9. Deleted from National Priorities List — Not Yet Achieved
  10. Most Recent Five-Year Review — 09/25/2025

EPA references

EPA-regulated facilities nearby

Understanding this Superfund site

Anaconda Co Smelter 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.

EPA has identified 7 contaminants of concern at this site, including arsenic, beryllium, cadmium. Contamination has been detected in solid waste, buildings/structures, groundwater, soil, air, surface water.

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.