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Anaconda Revegetation and Treatability Study (ARTS) Site 9
Smelter Hill, Anaconda Montana
1992
1997
Deer Lodge
Montana
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| Anaconda
Smelter Superfund Site |
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Nearest town and distance: Immediately adjacent to the town
of Anaconda, MT
Project Partners: Atlantic Richfield (ARCO), Montana Department
of Environmental Quality, EPA, Research and Development Institute
Objectives: Development and demonstration of in-situ reclamation
technologies for the Anaconda Smelter Superfund Site. Five field
demonstrations of in-situ treatment of contaminated soils were conducted
ranging in size from 1-5 acres.
History of Site: The Anaconda Smelter Site was the principal
location used by the Anaconda Minerals Company for processing the
ores derived from the mines in Butte Montana. Smelting of copper
rich ore was originally conducted in Butte, but was later moved
20 miles away to Anaconda where water was more abundant. The original
smelter sites called the Old Works (now a Jack Nicholas designed
golf course) was the site of smelting from the 1880's until the
turn of the century when the smelting operation was moved across
the valley to the present location. The smelter stack pictured was
constructed in 1918 and operated until 1981. Tons of sulfur dioxide
and arsenic trioxide were released from the stack during operation
in addition to tons of copper, zinc, lead and other metals. Following
closure of the operation in 1981 the structures on the hill were
razed in 1983 leaving only the stack as a remnant of the historic
operation. The site was listed by the EPA on the National Priorities
List. Remedial action is presently being designed for the site.
Pre-Restoration Photos:
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| Sparsely
vegetated landscape contaminated with As, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb.
Marginal vegetation results in significant erosion and release
of contaminants to the environment |
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| Contaminated
material is amended with composted manure and fertilizer in
greenhouse trials for evaluation of amendment rates and species
selection for seeding |
Design Narrative: Laboratory, greenhouse and field evaluations
were conducted to assess which desirable plant species were invading
the site and how soil chemical and physical properties could be
altered through treatment to allow more extensive establishment
of native vegetation. Based on careful laboratory analysis and successful
greenhouse trials a field design was developed and implemented in
the fall of 1992.
Construction Narrative: A 150 foot by 1400 foot rectangular
test plot was laid out running the length of Smelter Hill. Existing
erosional gullies and an abandoned rail line were demolished and
re-graded. A 0.77 acre acidic area (apparently related to a spill
of ore concentrate below the rail line) was limed with a weathered
lime product remaining from operation of the smelter. Composted
manure was hauled to the site and incorporated to an 18 inch depth
with a modified Baker plow. Dozer basins and gouges were installed
to control storm water runoff during plant establishment. The site
was mulched with straw mulch, crimped into the soil and seeded with
a native grass mixture. High rates of phosphorous fertilizer were
also applied to the site in addition to nitrogen and potassium.
Construction Photos:
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| Regrading
of the test plot removed erosional gullies and an abandoned
railroad grade |
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| A
portion of the area was contaminated by an ore concentrate
spill resulting in low pH soil conditions in addition
to contaminants deposited by aerial fallout. Lime addition
was required to ameliorate soil acidity. The lime spreader
was cabled to the D8 dozer for safe application on the
steep slope |
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| Lime
application occurred over 0.75 acres of the 5 acre test
plot |
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| Amendments
were incorporated by a large disc plow |
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Supplementary Narrative: Subsequent to construction of the
site, monitoring was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the
treatment. Monitoring included runoff quantity, climate, vegetative
success, soil chemistry, rate of sedimentation of gouges and dozer
basins and soil water movement. The result of the project (in addition
to the other 4 ARTS Sites) formed the basis for EPA's selection
of Land Reclamation for approximately 10,000 acres of the site at
a projected cost of $180 million. The risk to wildlife species using
in-situ technology is presently being evaluated through population
and toxicological study of small mammals and avian species using
this test plot.
Post Remediation:
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Vigorous
vegetation dominated by native grasses (Lemous cinereus--Basin
wildrye) was established following treatment. Erosion was
greatly reduced. After 7 growing seasons the vegetation continues
to thrive |
For more information on this project, contact:
Reclamation Research Unit Montana State University
106 Linfield Hall
Bozeman, MT 59717
Phone: (406)994-4821
E-mail: dneuman@montana.edu
(Principal Investigator)
URL: http://agadsrv.msu.montana.edu/reclamation/
Available Documentation: Multiple documents are available
which summarize this work. The principal documents are Phase I:
Site History and Literature Review, Phase II: Laboratory and Greenhouse
Studies, Phase III Field Implementation and Phase IV Monitoring
and Final Report
Submitted by: Stuart Jennings
Date: July 13, 2000
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