Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Site

A number of DEQ programs are involved in oversight of the on-going demolition and cleanup activities at the CFAC Facility, including the Hazardous Waste, Asbestos Control, and Opencut Mining Programs, and the Water Protection and Federal Superfund Bureaus. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the lead agency for Federal Superfund proposed cleanup under the National Priority Listing (NPL).

On September 7, 2016, the EPA announced that it will add the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company site to the National Priority Listing, effective September 9, 2016. Sites on the NPL are often referred to as Superfund sites. Superfund is the federal program that investigates and cleans up contamination at sites that pose a risk to human health and the environment.

On September 21, 2018, the Department of Environmental Quality notified CFAC and Calbag Resources that the Consent Order signed in 2015 to address hazardous waste located in the Pot Room Building (Building 1) has been satisfied.

Timeline

January 2019

The Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit (MT0030066) for CFAC, issued September, 2016 has been terminated due to plant closure and demolition of the facility. Public comment on the termination is open through February 27, 2019.

Environmental Assessment

September 2018

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has notified the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company and Calbag Resources, LLC, that the Consent Order signed in 2015 to address hazardous waste located in the Pot Room Building (Building 1) has been satisfied.

July 2018

On July 13, 2018 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for June indicate the removal of an additional 639,700 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 7,444,480 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification for Building 1 have been extended through August 31, 2018.

June 2018

On June 05, 2018 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for May indicate the removal of an additional 647,240 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 6,804,780 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification for Building 1 have been extended through August 31, 2018.

May 2018

On May 08, 2018 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for April indicate the removal of an additional 628,180 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 6,157,540 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification for Building 1 have been extended through August 31, 2018.

April 2018

On April 06, 2018, DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for March indicate the removal of an additional 635,380 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 5,529,360 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification for Building 1 have been extended through August 31, 2018.

March 2018

On March 07, 2018 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for February indicate the removal of an additional 279,760 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 4,893,980 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification for Building 1 have been extended through August 31, 2018.

February 2018

On February 05, 2018 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for December indicate the removal of an additional 363,540 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 4,614,220 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification for Building 1 have been extended through August 31, 2018.

January 2018

On January 02, 2018 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for December indicate the removal of an additional 84,820 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 4,250,680 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification for Building 1 have been extended through August 31, 2018.

December 2017

On December 04, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for November indicate the removal of an additional 1,165,740 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to date” non-regulated asbestos total of 4,165,860 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification for Building 1 have been extended through August 31, 2018.

November 2017

On November 06, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for October indicate the removal of an additional 989,900 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 3,200,120 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification for Building 1 have been extended through August 31, 2018.

October 2017

On October 05, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for September indicate the removal of an additional 268,340 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to date” non-regulated asbestos total of 2,210,220 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification are in place for Building 1 through October of 2017.

September 2017

On September 05, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for August indicate the removal of an additional 256,932 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to date” non-regulated asbestos total of 1,951,882 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification are in place for Building 1 through October of 2017.

August 2017

On August 14, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for July indicate the removal of an additional pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 1,694,950 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification are in place for Building 1 through October of 2017.

July 2017

On July 06, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for June indicate the removal of an additional 87,150 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 1,690,910 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification are in place for Building 1 through October of 2017.

May/June 2017

On June 03, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for May indicate the removal of an additional 126,740 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 1,603,760 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

On May 01, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for April indicate the removal of an additional 157,560 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 1,477,020 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit and demolition notification are in place for Building 1 through October of 2017.

March/April 2017

On April 07, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for February indicate the removal of an additional 127,280 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a "to-date" non-regulated asbestos total of 1,319,460 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit is in place for Building 1 through October of 2017.

On March 08, 2017 DEQ received an update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for February indicate the removal of an additional 37,320 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a "to-date" non-regulated asbestos total of 1,192,180 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit is in place for Building 1 through October of 2017.

February 2017

On February 07, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for January indicate the removal of an additional 37,420 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to date” non-regulated asbestos total of 1,152,860 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit is in place for Building 1.

January 2017

On January 23, 2017 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since December 05, 2016). The waste disposal receipts for December indicate the removal of an additional 10,820 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to date” non-regulated asbestos total of 1,115,440 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, Building 1, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit is in place for Building 1.

December 2016

On December 05, 2016 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (no increase since November 7). The waste disposal receipts for November indicate the removal of an additional 36,600 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to date” non-regulated asbestos total of 1,104,620 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit is in place through 2016 for the East Rectifier Building and through December for “Change House.” Demolition notifications remain in place for the East and West Rectifiers, Rod Mill Building, Laboratory Building, Building 1 Complex, and Change House.

November 2016

On November 07, 2016 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site. A current cumulative total of 69,900 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (an increase of 1,940 pounds since October 1st). The waste disposal receipts for October indicate the removal of an additional 72,770 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 1,067,960 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, Laboratory, and Change House.

An asbestos project permit is in place through 2016 for the East Rectifier Building and through December for “Change House.” Demolition notifications remain in place for the East and West Rectifiers, Rod Mill Building, Laboratory Building, Building 1 Complex, and Change House.

October 2016

On October 10, 2016 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site to date. A current cumulative total of 67,960 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility (an increase of 3,480 pounds since September). The waste disposal receipts for September indicate the removal of an additional 109,180 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 995,190 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, and Laboratory.

An asbestos project permit is in place through 2016 for the East Rectifier building and through October for the Building 1 complex. A project permit application has been received for the “Change House” and is being processed. Demolition notifications remain in place for the East and West Rectifiers, Rod Mill Building, Laboratory Building and Building 1 complex.

September 2016

On September 7, 2016 the EPA announced that it will add the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company site to the National Priority Listing, effective September 9, 2016. Sites on the NPL are often referred to as Superfund sites. Superfund is the federal program that investigates and cleans up contamination at sites that pose a risk to human health and the environment.

On September 6, 2016, DEQ received an update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of asbestos material removed from the CFAC site to date. A current cumulative total of 64,480 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility. The waste disposal receipts for August indicate the removal of an additional 87,780 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 886,010 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, and Laboratory.

An asbestos project permit is in place through 2016 for the East Rectifier building and through October for the Building 1 complex. Demolition notifications remain in place for the East and West Rectifiers, Rod Mill Building, Laboratory Building and Building 1 complex.

August 2016

On August 02, 2016 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of Asbestos material removed from the CFAC site to date. A current cumulative total of 52,420 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility. The waste disposal receipts for July indicate the removal of an additional 28,720 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to date” non-regulated asbestos total of 798,230 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, and Laboratory.

An asbestos project permit is in place through 2016 for the East Rectifier building and through October for the Building 1 complex. Demolition notifications remain in place for the East and West Rectifiers, Rod Mill Building, Laboratory Building and Building 1 complex.

July 2016

On July 6, 2016 DEQ received the most recent update from Carl Burnham of IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of asbestos material removed from the CFAC site to date. A current cumulative total of 35,080 pounds of regulated asbestos waste has been removed from the facility. The waste disposal receipts for June, 2016 indicate the removal of an additional 19,420 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to-date” non-regulated asbestos total of 769,510 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, and Laboratory.

An asbestos project permit is in place through 2016 for the East Rectifier building, through July for the Laboratory Building, and through October for the building 1 complex. Demolition notifications remain in place for the East and West Rectifiers, Rod Mill Building, Laboratory Building and Building 1 complex.

May and June 2016

On June 24, DEQ announced the Waste Management Plan for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Pot Room Building has been approved as required by the Administrative Order on Consent.The Plan covers the removal and disposal of 451 pot liners, which contain a listed hazardous waste known as K088, and any other regulated hazardous waste from the Pot Room Building. It includes an inventory of all hazardous waste and plans for waste tracking, dust management, decontamination, site safety, spills and protection of human health. The final CFAC Waste Management Plan is available here: /Portals/112/DEQAdmin/CFAC/FINAL_CFAC%20WasteMgmtPlan_June2016.pdf

On June 13, 2016 DEQ received the most recent update from IRS Environmental regarding the quantity of asbestos material removed from the CFAC site to date. The current cumulative total of 30,820 pounds of regulated asbestos waste remains unchanged. The waste disposal receipts for May 2016 indicate the removal of an additional 1,620 pounds of non-regulated asbestos material, yielding a “to date” non-regulated asbestos total of 750,090 pounds. Structures included in this removal include the West Rectifier, Rod Mill Building, Paste Plant, Quonset Hut, West Aluminum Unloader, Compressor Building, and Laboratory. An asbestos project permit is in place through 2016 for the East Rectifier building, and through July for the Laboratory Building. Demolition notifications remain in place for the East and West Rectifiers, Rod Mill Building, and Laboratory Building.

On May 24, 2016 DEQ received a response to its April comments to Calbag. CFAC has made comments and inserted additional items that will require further DEQ review. DEQ still needs appropriate financial assurance from Calbag.

April 2016

On April 13, 2016 DEQ provides comments on DRAFT Waste Management Plan.

March 2016

On March 8, 2016 DEQ receives the Draft Final Waste Management Plan, including financial assurance for removal and disposal of hazardous waste from Building 1.

January 2016

On January 13, 2016 DEQ approves the CFAC Building 1, Reuse, Re-purpose, and Recyclable Materials Waste Determination Summary Report (12 MB), a portion of the original plan. This approval allows for the recovery of valuable recyclable materials from Building 1.

January 28, DEQ provides comments to Calbag/CFAC on DRAFT WMP.

December 2015

Calbag submits Draft CFAC, Building 1, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recyclable Materials Waste Determination Summary Report.

November 2015

Updates are provided by Calbag and CFAC on the DEQ Violation Notice and site demolition work. Calbag halts all demolition work in Building One until the violation can be resolved.

November 20, 2015

CFAC submits A Waste Management Plan and Schedule for Spent Pot Liner Removal, Reuse, and Disposal.

October 2015

DEQ receives dust and storage complaint on October 6 for carbon anode being stored offsite on U.S. Highway 2 West.

Calbag discontinues transportation and handling of carbon anode at DEQ request.

DEQ issues a Violation Letter to CFAC and Calbag for moving potentially hazardous material before submitting an approved plan as specified in the AOC.

September 2, 2015

DEQ sends Waste Management Plan review letter to CFAC and Calbag.

August 7, 2015

On August 7, 2015 DEQ receives the DRAFT Waste Management Plan required by the AOC.

June 10, 2015

On June 10, 2015, DEQ, CFAC, and Calbag sign an Administrative Order on Consent addressing the storage of hazardous waste over 90 days and the removal of hazardous waste in Building 1. The AOC requires a Waste Management Plan (WMP) and schedule.

April 2015

Calbag provides CFAC a plan for the intended demolition work.

March 2015

EPA proposes the Site for listing under NPL.

February 2015

Governor Steve Bullock recommends National Priority Listing.

December 2014

CFAC ends negotiations with DEQ after DEQ and CFAC are unable to agree on the terms of the AOC.

July 2014

DEQ provides draft Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) to CFAC for environmental investigation. The AOC would have provided CFAC and Glencore the opportunity to voluntarily work with DEQ to further investigate the site and evaluate cleanup options.

June 2014

DEQ begins talks with Glencore about the state having authority over the investigation so cleanup can be completed more quickly.

2013

EPA completes assessment and results are communicated to the public.

2012

State Senator Dee Brown initiates EPA Superfund assessment of the CFAC Site.

2009

Last aluminum produced.

1999

Glencore purchases the plant from CFAC.

1998

Montana DEQ Permitting and Compliance Division requires removal of pot diggings material in surface soil.

1993

The Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences requires a groundwater investigation to determine sources of cyanide to the Flathead River.

1989

The Site is evaluated under the Montana Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act (CECRA). The Site is referred from the CECRA List to the DEQ Hazardous Waste Program as a generator of hazardous waste.

1985

ARCO sells the plant to CFAC (Montana Aluminum Investors Corporation).

1984

Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences conducts a Preliminary Site Assessment at the site. Hazardous and solid wastes are found to be generated at the Site.

1980

The Site is registered as a large quantity hazardous waste generator and transporter.

1977

Atlantic Richfield Company Purchases the facility.

1955

Aluminum production starts at the Anaconda Aluminum Reduction Works near Columbia Falls. Spent pot liners are placed in an unlined onsite repository.

Phase I Site Characterization

DSR Part I (Data Summary Reports)
DSR Part II
DSR Part III
DSR Part IV
Notification Letter of Final DSR and SLERA Summary Report, January 25, 2018

Permits

Haz Waste Removal

CFAC is registered with DEQ as a large quantity generator of hazardous waste. No hazardous waste permit is required. The Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) addresses the storage of hazardous waste and its removal from Building 1, a 40-acre structure which housed the primary aluminum smelting operations. There are 451 pot liners that need to be removed from Building 1 (Pot Room). Of an average 110-ton pot, approximately 60 tons will be contaminated and given the designation of K088 hazardous waste. There are three disposal facilities for K088-related wastes; Calbag has indicated that it may use U.S. Ecology out of Idaho or Chemical Waste Management out of Washington.

Asbestos

DEQ’s Asbestos Control Program has been providing direct compliance assistance and permitting for CFAC since April 2015. The work at the facility has been divided into manageable phases to allow for a thorough accounting of waste materials. At the point when an application for asbestos removal is received for a particular phase, a required notification for demolition is also submitted and processed.

The asbestos project permit for the CFAC site has expired. Since no regulated asbestos has been removed since December of 2016, the permit had been retained as a contingency until the end of August, 2018. IRS Environmental continues to provide DEQ with complimentary waste quantities for the non-regulated asbestos removed from the site, and the “running” totals remain at 69,900 pounds of regulated and 7,444,480 pounds of non-regulated asbestos transported to an approved disposal site.

In order to complete the demolition of building 1, the demolition notification has been extended to December 31 of 2018.

Water Discharge

CFAC's first groundwater discharge permit was issued in 1984; this permit did not authorize a discharge to state surface waters. In 1993, after it was determined that CFAC was discharging to the Flathead River without a permit, the company submitted an application for a Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination system (MPDES) permit; DEQ first issued an MPDES permit in 1994, authorizing the discharge of process wastewater through groundwater to the Flathead River. In 1999, DEQ renewed the MPDES permit through 2004. Based upon CFAC's 2003 application for renewal, DEQ administratively continued the 1999 permit.

During spring 2013, DEQ determined that an updated permit application was required for renewal since the previous application was submitted in 2003, and outdated. Although CFAC had ceased all aluminum production from its facility in 2009, CFAC submitted its updated application in 2013 with the assumption that production could restart at any time. The renewed MPDES permit was effective September 1, 2014; however, CFAC has appealed portions of the renewed permit. The appealed portions of the permit have been stayed as a result of CFAC's appeal. The company's current MPDES discharge permit, which was set to expire in October, 2019, has been terminated due to plant closure and demolition of the facility.

Industrial and Energy Minerals/Opencut Mining

On October 29, 2015, the DEQ Opencut Mining Program approved permit #2724 for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company to obtain material from an area on the CFAC property east of the original aluminum plant location. According to CFAC, material obtained from the CFAC Borrow Pit will be used as back fill following building demolition activities. More information on this permit can be found at: http://searchopencutpermits.mt.gov/

Superfund (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

On March 26, 2015, the EPA proposed adding CFAC to the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is the list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States. Adding a site to the NPL allows the EPA and the community to access significant technical and financial resources to address the environmental and health risks posed by the site.

The proposed listing was subject to a 60-day public review and comment period, which ended on June 2, 2015. The EPA reviewed and responded to all comments. On September 7, 2016, the EPA announced that it will add the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company to the National Priorities List, effective September 9, 2016. Sites on the NPL are often referred to as Superfund sites. Superfund is the federal program that investigates and cleans up contamination at sites that pose a risk to human health and the environment.

A notice of the listing is scheduled to publish in the Federal Register September 9, 2016. EPA will also set up a public meeting in Columbia Falls to discuss with the community the next steps and outline how the public can engage in the Superfund process moving forward. The EPA Support Document is 616 pages and is 22 MB. (This document has been disabled on the federal EPA website and remains unlinkable at as of time April, 2017.)

In a statement announcing the designation, EPA Region 8 Administrator Shaun McGrath said, "The addition of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company site to the National Priorities List will ensure the comprehensive investigation and cleanup of contaminants and help secure future opportunities for the reuse of this prominent property along the Flathead River. EPA’s action is based on a thorough review of site data and input from the local community."

The next steps are the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS), which will be overseen by the EPA, in consultation with the State. The objectives of the RI/FS are to assess site conditions, determine the nature and extent of contamination, and evaluate alternatives to the extent necessary to select a cleanup plan. The RI/FS will expand on the screening level investigation already completed at the Site.

For more information about the NPL designation, visit: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/columbia-falls

On November 12, 2015, Glencore/CFAC announced that there is $4 million in financial assurance set up to take the project through the RI/FS process. At the end of November 2015, CFAC signed an Administrative Order on Consent with the EPA for the RI/FS.

EPA does not have any data that indicate Columbia Falls’ municipal water supply is impacted. Columbia Falls’ water supply is a groundwater source more than three miles from the sampled source areas. The municipal wells are sampled regularly as part of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements for municipal water supplies.

For more information, visit the EPA website.

Enforcement Actions

DEQ sent a Violation of Administrative Order on Consent letter to CFAC and Calbag on October 26, 2015. The letter stated that the companies were in violation for not presenting an approvable plan to DEQ for the removal of hazardous waste from the Pot Room Building as required in the AOC.

On November 12, 2015, Calbag stated that all demolition work in Building 1 has been halted until the violation has been resolved. On June 24, 2016 DEQ accepted a Waste Management Plan and work on the facility has resumed. On September 21, 2018, the Department of Environmental Quality notified CFAC and Calbag Resources that the Consent Order signed in 2015 to address hazardous waste located in the Pot Room Building (Building 1) has been satisfied.

Contacts

Cory Mikita

Hazardous Waste Removal
Phone: (406) 444-1435
cmikita@mt.gov

John Benoit

Asbestos
Phone: (406) 444-5286
jbenoit@mt.gov

Christine Weaver

Water Discharge
Phone: (406) 444-3927
cweaver@mt.gov

Colleen Owen

Opencut Mining
Phone: (406) 755-8966
cowen@mt.gov

Richard Sloan

Superfund
Phone: (406) 444-6442
rsloan@mt.gov

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The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is charged with protecting a clean and healthy environment as guaranteed to our citizens by our State Constitution. Our ultimate goal is to protect public health and to maintain Montana's high quality of life for current and future generations.

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