What projects has EPA been involved with in Butte related to the Superfund site?
A variety of actions and activities have been implemented to address the contamination in Butte, including:
- Assessments of risk have been conducted to quantify actual and potential human health risks due to potential exposure to tailings, waste rock, yard soils, indoor dust, attic dust, mercury vapor, surface water, and ground water.
- Removal of tailings, contaminated soils, and sediment, and placement of these materials in a managed repository.
- The establishment of vegetation, especially in the Blacktail and Silverbow Creek Corridors.
- Construction of water treatment plants and treatment of contaminated water.
- Capping of contaminated waste dumps and railroad beds.
- Revegetation and the establishment of vegetation with associated standards that allow for long term monitoring and maintenance to meet performance standards in the Butte Reclamation Evaluation System (BRES).
- Installation of storm water controls.
- Capture and treatment of ground water.
- Alternative water supply systems and controlled ground water areas for the community.
- Institutional controls and implementation of the Residential Metals Abatement Program (RMAP) that provides a comprehensive cleanup of residential yards and attics.
- Ongoing community education and engagement, including community meetings, implementing the site-specific environmental justice action plan, attending design workshop updates with Butte-Silver Bow County.