2017 Region 8 Anaconda Aluminum Co Columbia Falls Reduction Plant Site also known as the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company (CFAC) site COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN Introduction The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency This community involvement plan provides links and contact (EPA) promotes fair and meaningful public information to people and resources so that you can learn involvement so that all people enjoy equal access to the decision-making process more about the CFAC site and identify ways to be involved. and the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards regardless Section 1 Section 2 of race, color, national origin or income level. To do this in the EPA Superfund program, EPA staff works with the community and partners to conduct community outreach activities in areas affected by the Superfund designation and develops a community involvement plan that summarizes public concerns about the site and outlines how people can engage throughout the Superfund process. Provides a synopsis of the site and Presents EPA’s community engagement Community involvement activities at the summarizes community concerns and program for the site and ways to get involved. Anaconda Aluminum Co Columbia Falls communication preferences. Reduction Plant site, also known as the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company (CFAC) Section 3 Appendices site, are designed to: • Inform and update the public about the site and the cleanup process. • Engage the public to provide meaningful input into the Superfund process and site cleanup decisions. • Sustain public engagement throughout the Superfund timeline. Reviews the CFAC site’s history and status. Summarizes key community information and provides supplemental and contact information. 2 Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site CIP Street sign leading to the CFAC site. Cover: Aerial view of the CFAC site alongside the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. // Source: Flathead Beacon Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site CIP 3 The Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Autumn. 4 Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site CIP Section 1: • Site Synopsis INTRODUCTION • Community Concerns • Communication Preferences 2 Section 2: • Tools and Activities • Additional Resources THE COMMUNITY 18 INVOLVEMENT PLAN Section 3: • Description SITE BACKGROUND • History • Current Status 28 • Community Involvement Section 4: • Community Profile • Contacts APPENDICES 32 EPA would like to thank the Flathead Beacon for allowing the use of the newspaper’s photographs in this document. The photographs may not be used or reproduced without the express consent of the Flathead Beacon. Site Synopsis The CFAC site is located at 2000 Aluminum Superfund is the federal program that Drive, two miles northeast of Columbia Falls investigates and cleans up the country’s in Flathead County, Montana. It covers about most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned 960 acres north of the Flathead River; the CFAC hazardous waste sites to protect public facility operated on site between 1955 and health and the environment. The program 2009. The CFAC site is located in EPA’s Rocky was established by the Comprehensive Mountain and Plains Region (Region 8). EPA Environmental Response, Compensation, and Region 8 serves Montana, Colorado, North Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 sovereign tribal nations. At the CFAC site, EPA is the lead agency. EPA works closely with the Montana Department During its operation, CFAC created of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to oversee significant quantities of spent potliner site investigation and cleanup activities. material, a federally listed hazardous waste, CFAC and their contractor Roux Associates as a byproduct of the aluminum smelting are currently conducting the site’s remedial process. EPA’s initial site evaluation investigation with EPA and MDEQ oversight. indicated groundwater and surface water MDEQ is overseeing the demolition of physical had been contaminated with cyanide, structures on site. fluoride, and various metals. Multiple CFAC: Columbia potential sources of contamination are located at the site that may pose risks to Falls Aluminum human health or the environment. Company To protect human health and the environment, EPA added the CFAC site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2016, making it eligible for additional study and cleanup resources under EPA’s Superfund program. 6 Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site CIP Map showing CFAC site in relation to the surrounding communities and its location within the state of Montana. // Sources: Esri, DeLorme, AND, Tele Atlas, First American, UNEP-WCMC and USGS. Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site CIP 7 The Superfund timeline can take many years. The infographic below shows the major steps in the Superfund process and where the CFAC site is in the process. 8 Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site CIP Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site CIP 9 Community involvement is essential Community interviews are an important part throughout the Superfund process to ensure of EPA’s public engagement program. EPA will people can share information about the site continue to conduct community interviews and participate in the decision-making process to identify community concerns about the CFAC site and ensure effective community and reuse of the site. Community involvement engagement throughout the Superfund process. activities– from initial have investigations been ongoing to and final will cleanup continue at the CFAC site in order to identify and In June 2016, EPA conducted an initial round respond to community concerns, engage people of interviews with Columbia Falls residents, in the Superfund process, and develop the adjacent landowners, former CFAC workers, community involvement plan. other stakeholders. Their experiences ranged At the CFAC site, these activities have included: fromlocal businesshaving minimal owners, contact elected with officials the CFAC and facility to working on site for decades. • Researching community documents and considering public comments. • Meeting with local residents and community groups. • Community members government partners at the local, state and nationalWorking level.with elected officials and can discuss concerns • Cooperating with local news media. with EPA whenever a • Conducting community interviews. representative is in the area, or contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator by phone, email, or mail at any time. 10 Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site CIP Community members gather around one of the landfills on the CFAC site during a tour in 2016. // Source: Flathead Beacon Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site CIP 11 Community Concerns HUMAN HEALTH CLEANUP Review of information Community members are concerned about the People want the CFAC site cleanup to be gathered during community contamination on site and how it may affect thorough, protective, lasting and timely. people’s health. People discussed concerns People are concerned about potential effects interviews and other outreach about potential health impacts but did not of the cleanup on surrounding areas, including activities has identified attribute any health-related issues or illnesses the transportation of asbestos and other to the site or facility operations. People would hazardous materials through the community. several community concerns like to have educational materials about Interviewees also shared concerns about about the CFAC site. Some site conditions to better understand any long-term monitoring of the cleanup and some risks associated with living in the area and people have expressed frustration that site people noted that some site recommendations for minimizing potential investigation and sampling activities have contamination concerns are contact with site contamination. People also taken several years. observed that, in spite of “no trespassing” longstanding, stretching back signage near the site, people continue to 20 to 30 years. access the area to play ballgames and ride motorcycles and ATVs. 12 Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund Site CIP COMMUNITY THE INVOLVEMENT ECONOMY WATER People want to be informed and engaged in People are concerned about the potential Water quality and access to clean water are the Superfund process and stated that the impacts on the local economy that may community priorities. People noted that result from listing the CFAC site on the NPL water quality is related to both groundwater, Community Liaison Panel, residents near as well as from the site’s cleanup. Some for wells and municipal water supplies thecommunity, CFAC site, city and and other county stakeholders officials, the should CFAC interviewees noted that the site’s listing in Columbia Falls, and surface water, for receive timely updates. Many community could stigmatize the area; other interviewees downstream communities. People requested members expressed concern about whether thought that the site’s cleanup could remove more information about which contaminants their input would be considered in the a major community concern and attract new decision-making process. Community businesses, residents and visitors. Several and whether those concentrations pose a risk members also asked about the roles of various people shared concerns about the decline tohave public been health identified or the in environment. area water supplies People agencies and organizations. of industrial employers such as CFAC and also asked about