EPA Orders Oil Company to Pay $150 Million to Clean-up Montana Site

Oil company, Atlantic Richfield, has been ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “to undertake or finance over $150 million of clean-up work” at a site in Butte, Montana.

Since the late 1800s, waste from mining has been dumped into the Butte, Montana area, including into streams and wetlands. Additionally, smelters and mills emitted gases “which contaminated soil, groundwater and surface water with heavy metals”.

Today’s order from the EPA “provides the framework” for the cleanup of this “mining-related contamination” through extensive treatment of the contaminated storm water, groundwater, and soil. The “cleanup plan” also includes removal of “attic dust” in homes as well as long-term environmental monitoring.

The $150 million order will need “final court approval” from the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana before taking effect.