07/26/22 Update

The EPA signed the Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent with Idaho Pole Company for groundwater work. EPA anticipates groundwater amendments will begin on August 8 as a pilot in support of the Focused Feasibility Study. The document is available on the EPA website under Site Documents and Data. EPA will update the Announcements and Key Topics section as soon as possible to reflect document availability. The direct address to the Administrative Order is: https://semspub.epa.gov/src/document/08/100011921.
 
EPA’s Idaho Pole webpage: www.epa.gov/superfund/idaho-pole

07/19/22 Update

The Prospective Purchaser Agreement with Scout DAC, LLC was finalized on July 5, 2022 for consolidation of treated soils at the Site.

 

EPA is working on an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent with Idaho Pole Company for additional groundwater work which is anticipated to be finalized prior to any property sale at the Site.

The Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent will ensure work is performed, including in situ amendments in the groundwater in support of the focused feasibility study.

07/08/22 Update
Roger Hoogerheidi Hoogerheide.Roger@epa.gov will present at the Summer Meeting.
We have asked Roger to address:

• Offer a brief summary and update on the potential for airborne contaminants, including dioxins, and what the plan is for mitigating the risks associated with them? 
• How will the neighborhood stay informed as the EPA moves forward with the remediation? 
• Will the EPA stay involved if remediation takes place and then development takes place? 
• At some point, the City Of Bozeman might be responsible for making important decisions like what to do with stormwater drainage. Will the EPA still be involved in those decisions? 
• Discuss the in-situ amendments presented in the fact sheet.

06/22/22 Update

We look forward to meeting and hearing from the potential developer at the NENA Meeting on July 21. He will be there to briefly present where things stand now, to talk about the vision for the space, and to address questions and concerns.

Two stewards of the neighborhood recently submitted a public comment on the Proposed Purchaser Agreement between EPA and Scout DAC LLC regarding the Idaho Pole Company Superfund Site in Bozeman, MT. 

You can see that comment here:  DAYTON_HOITSMA COMMENTS.pdf

05/16/2022 Update

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a prospective purchaser settlement agreement with Scout DAC LLC (the purchaser) and requests comment on the proposed agreement. This agreement outlines what work the purchaser plans to perform onsite and what liability protections EPA and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality plan to provide. The project is expected to enhance the protectiveness of the remedy during development and future use of the property.
 
Where can I read the proposed purchaser agreement?
Visit the EPA’s website:
 

• http://www.epa.gov/superfund/idaho-pole

Visit the regulation website:

• https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/05/13/2022-10381/cercla-administrative-settlement-agreement-for-removal-action-and-payment-of-response-costs-by

 
How can I comment?
Online (follow instructions for submitting comments)

• http://www.regulations.gov
• Docket #: EPA-HQ-SFUND-2022-0328 FRL-9757-01-R8
•  

By email:

• castelli.kayleen@epa.gov

By mail:

• Kayleen Castelli, ORC-L-C

1595 Wynkoop St
Denver, CO 80202
 
The Idaho Pole Company Superfund Site is near the northern limits of Bozeman. Contaminants include pentachlorophenol (PCP), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxin. For information about the site, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/idaho-pole. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
 

Idaho Pole Redevelopment is on the Horizon

The City of Bozeman created a TIF financing district for the redevelopment of this area on Nov 24, 2020. The city's vision embraces dense urban mixed use development. Is this property safe to develop? Is it appropriate for the kind of density the city envisions? 
What vision do you have for this area? Please get involved to help shape the redevelopment of this area!

EPA is sponsoring a series of meetings to address the safety issues, details below for upcoming and past meetings.

Idaho Pole notes from February 17, 2021 public meeting

The February 17 meeting notes are now available on the EPA’s website. Click here to download the notes directly.

Idaho Pole 5 Year Review - notes from January 27, 2021 EPA public meeting

Five Year Review

Focused Feasibility Study

• The Superfund process includes an assessment and investigation and then it gets listed on the National Priorities List. EPA does a remediation investigation and feasibility study and then issues a Record of Decision (ROD). After the ROD, the EPA designs the remedy and completes remedial action. Once construction is complete, the site moves to post construction completion, that includes Five Year Reviews. The site can then be deleted, or partially deleted, off the National Priorities List and then can be considered for reuse. We are at the reuse point for soils and jumping back to the feasibility study section for groundwater.
• The Focused Feasibility Study evaluates remediation alternatives for groundwater at the site, including knowledge we already have from the ROD and old studies. The groundwater Focused Feasibility Study will consider residual soil contamination. 
• The Pump and Treat System removed approximately 350 pounds of contaminants and treated 624 gallons of groundwater in total. 
  • In the last few years of the pump and treat system, the remedy was only removing a small amount of contamination so in 2010 EPA started evaluating other alternatives. The original remedy served its purpose to remove most contaminant mass. 
  • In 2014 and 2015 EPA began a groundwater pilot test by injecting microbes to consume the remaining contaminants (In-Situ Treatment)
  • The Focused Feasibility Study is looking at three alternatives:
    • No action
    • In Situ Treatment (biological or chemical) and monitored natural attenuation with Institutional and Engineering Controls. 
      • This would inject chemicals to break down contaminants, or nutrients to allow microbial community to break down contaminants as referenced above in the test. 
    • Monitored Natural Attenuation and contingency In Situ Treatment with Institutional and Engineering Controls. 
    • This uses the natural process to decrease concentration in contaminations in soil and groundwater. This would include farming indigenous microbes to foster further contaminant breakdown.

Full Notes & Audience Questions from Jan 27 - 2021 01-27 Idaho PoleNotes.pdf 

EPA Superfund information, list of past events

• January 27th will be the third meeting presentation. Please email questions ahead to archer.elizabeth@epa.gov 
• January 13, 2021 EPA meeting notes  and presentation: January 13 EPA presentation
• Click the following link to download the 12/03/2020 EPA/DEQ Presentation: 2020 12-03 IdahoPoleDec3.pdf 
• Click the following link to see Bozeman's City Water Infrastructure: https://gisweb.bozeman.net/Html5Viewer/?viewer=infrastructure
• Roger Hoogerheide Environmental Protection Specialist with the EPA and Beth Archer, Community Involvement Coordinator with the EPA will host a meeting on Wednesday, January 13, from 6:30 to 8 pm. The link and call-in information is available on the EPA website. 
• Interested community members can contact: Beth Archer, Community Involvement Coordinator, (303) 312-6611 | (720) 512-1917 ©, Public Affairs Branch | EPA Region 8, archer.elizabeth@epa.gov