WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW WITH THE CLEANUP?

ESTIMATED START DATE:   Fall 2024

ESTIMATED TOTAL COST:   $4.92 million (incl. monitoring & maintenance)

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LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: 

A 40-acre site ~10 miles south of Deer Lodge to the east of Racetrack Pond, running 2.2 river miles SW to NE beginning just north of Gemback Road. 

CHARACTERISTICS:

Relative to other phases, the Strategic Plan characterizes Phase 7 as "Moderate Priority" for erosion and risk of contaminated sediments reaching the river; and "High Priority" for the amount of contaminated soils present and the fact that it includes a high use area and public fishing access (see Strategic Plan, pp.11-12).

STATUS (as of 7/2/24)

DEQ and NRDP released preliminary cleanup designs for this phase in April 2024, which CFRTAC and its technical consultant reviewed.  (See CFRTAC's comments HERE. See photos from the June 2024 site tour HERE.)  The agencies are now reviewing comments and will issue a response in July indicating design changes made, or stating why comments were not incorporated. They are also preparing a draft bid package/Remedial Action Work Plan, which details the work to be done, how it will be measured, and how it will be paid for. EPA will review this document before it is finalized. After it is finalized, DEQ will advertise the project and solicit bids from potential contractors. Construction should begin this fall.

ESTIMATED START DATE:   2025 & 2026 (Work concurrent with Ph 10/11)

ESTIMATED TOTAL COST:   $20.62M (may change) 

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LOCATION & DESCRIPTION: 

Includes Arrowstone Park. Extends through Deer Lodge from the I-90 bridge at Exit 187 (eastbound) north to the city's boundary with Grant Kohrs Ranch (near the Cottonwood Creek confluence).  

CHARACTERISTICS:

This phase is of high concern primarily because previously capped soils at Arrowstone Park that contain arsenic and other contaminants have been exposed in some areas, creating public health risks. As noted in DEQ's 2024 Clark Fork River News, community concern led DEQ to prioritize cleanup here,  install safety signage, and add temporary soil caps on bare spots with exposed toxic contaminants. 

STATUS:

As of spring 2024, DEQ is collecting more data at the Arrowstone Park site and working with EPA, Powell County, and Montana FWP on a preliminary design. DEQ is also coordinating with EPA's toxicologist and the Montana Dept. of Public Health & Human Services to determine how human health risks will be addressed in the design process. Based on additional findings and input, the estimated cost and timing for this phase may change.

COMPLETED PHASES (maintenance & monitoring underway):

• Phases 1 & 2: Completed in 2014 and 2016
• Phases 3 & 4A: Completed in 2023
• Phases 5 & 6: Completed in 2016 (Ph 5 pictured above)
• Phases 15 & 16: Completed in 2021
• Deer Lodge Residential Yards; Trestle Area; Eastside Rd. Residential Area; and Eastside Rd Pastures: Completed in 2011, 2012, & 2016
• See Phase Status Map below for locations of these & other phases
• For a detailed technical update, read the 2023 Status Report (Qualitative Rapid Assessment) for Phases 1, 2, 5, & 6 - released by DEQ and NRDP in April 2024

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NEXT UP AFTER PHASE 7 & PHASE 13/14 (described above):

• Phase 10/11 will be constructed concurrently with Phase 13/14. Work is estimated to begin in 2025/26

• Phase 12 (A&B) will have some overlap with Phase 10/11 and share haul roads, as they are all accessed from Sager Lane. Work is currently estimated to begin in 2027

Phases 7 and 10-14 (described above) were prioritized for cleanup based on the ranking criteria described on p. 12 of the 2023 Strategic Plan. Other phases will be addressed in an upstream-to-downstream sequence after these higher-priority phases are completed. These include:

• Phase 4B:  Estimated to start in 2029. Phase 4A was completed in 2023. 

• Phases 8 and 9:  Estimated to start in 2030 and 2031. This area of the river is considered to be suitable to provide refuge for fish and wildlife displaced by work in earlier phases. 

• Phases 17 - 22: To be completed in order after Phases 8 & 9, with some possibly being combined. At roughly one phase per year, (with Phase 17 A & B taking a year apiece), annual start dates will be from 2032 to 2038.

• Maintenance and monitoring for completed phases is ongoing. The Strategic Plan estimates this work will continue beyond construction of the final phase from 2040 through 2044.