critical to the process of reclamation in the Butte and 

 Anaconda areas. 



In the Deer Lodge Valley, there are areas that are 

 devoid or nearly devoid of vegetation due to contamination 

 from either smelter emissions or historic use of tailings- 

 laden irrigation water. The lack of perennial vegetation in 

 these areas results in wind erosion, increased surface water 

 runoff, increased recharge of the shallow ground water 

 system, and possibly increased metals loading to surface and 

 ground water. Although some reclamation projects have been 

 initiated to address these areas, more research is needed to 

 determine if large acreages can be cost-effectively re- 

 claimed. 



In order to establish hazard level criteria for the 

 Butte and Anaconda areas, to support funding for reclamation 

 projects, and to begin to establish vegetation in barren 

 areas in the Deer Lodge Valley, the following strategies are 

 recommended: 



1. Conduct a background metals levels study in the Butte 

 area . 



Determine natural concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, 

 copper, lead, and zinc in soils in the vicinity of 

 Butte. Because Butte is a highly mineralized area, 

 background metals concentrations in soils may be higher 

 than "typical" concentrations. The study must be 

 carefully designed to avoid areas contaminated by 

 smelter emissions, waste dumps, and other sources of 

 contamination. The data will be useful in assessing the 

 risks of heavy metals contamination and in establishing 

 appropriate cleanup levels. 



2. Establish action levels for soils cleanup for the Silver 

 Bow Creek/Butte Addition and Anaconda Superfund sites. 



Establish appropriate action levels for soils based on 

 health risk and environmental assessments, the new back- 

 ground soil study for Butte, and the existing background 

 soil study for Anaconda (Tetra Tech 1986c). The 

 Superfund regulations require that the EPA and the DHES 

 first determine action levels that are protective of 

 human health and the environment without regard to 

 cost. The next step is to determine cost-effective 

 remedies for meeting those action levels. 



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