The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released the final Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) for the Montana Pole and Treating site in Butte, Montana. The ESD proposes changes to the original cleanup plan to make the site more protective of human health and the environment.
| City | Butte |
|---|---|
| County | Silver Bow County |
| State | Montana |
| Coordinates | 45.99134, -112.54824 |
Montana Pole And Treating 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: Construction complete. Physical construction of the cleanup remedy is complete, though long-term monitoring and institutional controls typically continue for years or decades. Groundwater treatment systems, for example, often run long after surface cleanup finishes.
EPA has identified 10 contaminants of concern at this site, including 1,2-dihydroacenaphthylene, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (tcdd), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran. Contamination has been detected in groundwater, surface water, soil, 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.