The clean-up of contaminated soil in the old mining town of Neihart could start becoming a reality by 2010.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials briefed Cascade County Commissioners and local health officials on Tuesday, and the final plans are now being drawn on how to clean up contaminated soil in Neihart.
The EPA says about 65 properties will need work as the soil is contaminated with lead and arsenic, which was brought into town from the mines during the last 100 years.
The project will remove soil from the contaminated properties. But, county commissioners are concerned where the soil will be taken and that contaminants could be washed into creeks.
The EPA will look more closely at the preferred site and agrees it has to be safe.
"Well it's critical. That's what we are there to address...the contaminated soil issues, and so whatever we remove from the yards we want to make sure it's final resting place is a secure place that not only protects from human health or human exposure, but keeps it out of the environment and keeps it out of the creeks" explained EPA Superfund Branch Chief Joseph Vranka.
The EPA will also start looking more closely at each property in Neihart to determine how to clean them up. They are still looking for nearly $12 million to pay for the project and the construction is expected take two years.
(June 17, 2009) The town of Neihart will soon be torn up and residents say it's a good thing.
An agreement has been reached about how to clean up contaminated soil in the small, old-mining town southeast of Great Falls.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says about 65 properties will need work, but that number could increase as the process moves along.
The soil is contaminated with lead and arsenic which was brought into town from the mines during the last 100 years. The project will remove one to two feet of soil from the contaminated properties.
"Now we know we're going to have a clean town and nobody is going to be afraid to bring their children here," Neihart Mayor Bill Lewis said. "There is no stigma attached to us, and besides our nice clean air and our scenic mountains, we're going to have a clean ground in the town."
An engineering process will start this summer and will include talking to affected landowners and then the next step will be to wait for funding which could take a couple more years. The cleanup project will cost nearly $12 million.
The various groups involved in the project dedicated a new kiosk in town on Tuesday which looks back on the mining history and also serves as a reminder to not bring contaminated soil back into town.
(from July 5, 2008)
For the past seven years, areas around Neihart that were once large mining operations are now being cleaned-up. But, restoring these "Super fund" sites is no easy task, it takes years for the contaminated soil and waters to return to safe levels.
And one site is at the forefront of a new proposed project by Cascade County.
Just a few crumbling structures remain of what was once part of a bustling mining operation more than 80 years ago.
Waste rock up where the materials were take out of the brought out of the shafts and processed through a process called milling. In its hay day; silver, lead and zinc were extracted from the mineral rich Neihart slope helping the small town turn into a booming community. It even played a vital role during the first and second world wars as the demand for precious medals were needed for the war effort.
It is this lucrative history the county wants to preserve. The community wants to make sure it communicate's the history of this great community to people in a permanent way. This site has been somewhat of a problem people in and around Neihart have been removing the contaminated soil using it for their lawns or driveways, which is not a good idea.
So instead of fencing off the site with a skull and bones warning sign the county is proposing a to put up a barrier and a kiosk giving the history of the area. This has a rich history a proud history that helped this country fight in World War Two, it's a history the community wants to protect
The county is working with local historians to put together a proposal for site. As of now nothing is set in stone, but the county hopes to get the ball rolling to help protect the area and keep contaminated soil out of reach.
