Aesthetics monitoring (color, foam, sludge deposits, 

 slime growth, odor, etc.) was conducted in the Clark Fork 

 near Missoula during the 1984-85 WQB investigation. Results 

 of analyses for river color indicated a general compliance 

 with Champion's allowable five-color unit increase stipulated 

 in its discharge permit. Color was the single most important 

 factor controlling the rate at which Champion could discharge 

 wastewater to the river. Although it reported occasional 

 violations of the color standard. Champion considered it a 

 high priority to reduce the volume and color of its effluent 

 (DHES 1985) . 



Stone Container Corporation, which acquired the mill in 

 1986, installed a color-removal plant at the facility in 

 February 1988. The technology, developed by the corporation, 

 reduces color of the effluent by about 85 percent. This will 

 allow the mill to meet color standards if it discharges 

 during low-flow conditions. The chemical process also 

 reduces the total suspended solids and nutrients (Stone 

 Container Corp. 1988) . The new plant is operated seasonally 

 only, due to the high cost of the additional treatment. 



During the 1984-85 WQB aesthetics reconnaissance, con- 

 siderable quantities of surface foam were observed on the 

 Clark Fork above and below Champion's discharge, in the 

 Bitterroot River near its mouth, and in the Clark Fork from 

 St. Regis to the confluence of the Flathead River. Foam 

 occurs naturally in surface water, especially in streams 

 draining forested regions, due to the presence of dissolved 

 organic substances. Wood processing industries often 

 increase the occurrence of foam because of wood-derived 

 organic substances in their wastewater effluent. This 

 problem was especially bad in the backwater areas below 

 Champion's discharge in the fall and early spring. Steps 

 were being taken to reduce foaming agents in Champion's 

 effluent (DHES 1985) . 



Toxins. Substances in this category include organics 

 such as PCP, PCB, oil and grease, and organic resin acids. 

 PCP and PCB are of particular concern in the headwaters area. 

 Silver Bow Creek has received waste oil containing PCP in the 

 vicinity of the Montana Pole Superfund site (discussed 

 earlier in this chapter) , and PCB is a potential contaminant 

 from the Butte urban area (MultiTech 1987a) . During the 

 Phase I Superfund studies for the Silver Bow Creek site, 

 selected stations were monitored for PCP, PCB, and oil and 

 grease. MultiTech (1987a) reported detectable concentrations 

 of PCP at the monitoring station below the Montana Pole and 

 Treatment site. 



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