6. Support cleanup of large mine waste deposits. 



The Colorado Tailings and Ramsay Flats areas have been 

 studied intensively by a number of groups in the past 

 several years. Both areas are documented contaminant 

 sources to Silver Bow Creek and local ground water. 

 Emphasis should begin to be shifted from study to direct 

 reclamation and abatement of these known pollution 

 sources to reduce metals loading to Silver Bow Creek and 

 the Clark Fork. 



Funding for reclamation of streamside mine wastes in the 

 upper Clark Fork should be sought from the responsible 

 parties. If there are no PRPs, other possible sources of 

 funding include the Resource Indemnity Trust Fund, the 

 General Fund, and the Coal Tax Fund. 



Soils and Reclamation 



Large acreages in the upper Clark Fork Basin are 

 contaminated with a variety of substances, primarily arsenic 

 and heavy metals. Most of the soil contamination is the 

 result of smelter emissions, use of tailings-laden irrigation 

 water, or proximity to waste dumps. The contaminated areas 

 pose a number of human health and environmental hazards. 

 People who live near waste dumps or contaminated soils may be 

 exposed to dangerous levels of pollutants. Contamination of 

 soils has resulted in loss of productive land and reduced 

 agricultural yields. These soils are potential sources of 

 surface and ground water contamination. 



The areas of greatest concern are in the vicinity of 

 Butte and Anaconda within the boundaries of the Silver Bow 

 Creek/Butte Addition and Anaconda Smelter Superfund sites. 

 Expedited remedial actions have been initiated by the EPA in 

 the communities of Mill Creek (relocation of residents) and 

 Walkerville (removal or reclamation of waste dumps; cleanup 

 of residential yards) . More of this type of work may be done 

 in residential areas near the Old Works in Anaconda and 

 Timber Butte south of Butte. 



However, once the immediate health hazards are re- 

 solved, large acreages of contaminated land will still remain 

 in both residential and agricultural areas. To date, EPA and 

 the state have not established metals action levels for the 

 Butte and Anaconda areas. Action levels established for 

 other areas (e.g., the East Helena Superfund site) are likely 

 not applicable because of natural variation in background 

 metals levels due mainly to differences in geology. 

 Establishment of site-specific hazard level criteria is 



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