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DEQ Moves Forward with Cleanup of Contaminated Soils at Arrowstone Park

Collaboration with Local Stakeholders Results in Faster Cleanup of Community Park

  • Kevin Stone
  • September 01 2023

HELENA—The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is taking steps to protect public health at Arrowstone Park in Deer Lodge, Mont. Based on input from stakeholders and the public, DEQ recently adjusted the timeline for beginning the cleanup at the park.

Remediation work will remove soil that is contaminated with arsenic and metals. On the adjusted timeline, preliminary design work will be starting soon with cleanup activities expected to begin in late summer or early fall of 2024. In the meantime, park users may notice some changes at the park meant to help protect the public. These measures are necessary because the contaminated soil is exposed in a few isolated areas of the park and visitors should exercise caution.

“Arrowstone Park is safe for public use,” said DEQ Superfund, AML and Construction Bureau Chief Katie Garcin-Forba. “The biggest risks associated with the park is from children consuming exposed dirt at the park. We recommend taking basic precautions if you or your family are recreating at the park.”  

DEQ will be placing signs at the park advising users to:  

  • Stay on trails and keep pets on leash.  
  • Avoid contact with bare dirt.  
  • Supervise children. Do not allow children to touch or consume dirt.  
  • Stay off river shoreline where bare dirt is exposed.  
  • Follow fish consumption advisories on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website: fwp.mt.gov  

In the coming weeks, a contractor will place temporary soil cover to prevent contact with potentially contaminated dirt.

The floodplain of the Clark Fork River was contaminated by toxic sediment from historical mining and smelting activities in Butte and Anaconda. In 1992, the Clark Fork River Operable Unit was added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List, also known as Superfund. In a 2008 settlement, the state of Montana received $95 million to complete the remediation activities outlined in the Record of Decision for the site and $27 million for restoration actions to be implemented along the river corridor.   

Tags: Cleanup and Press Release