At the sites below, NRDP, on behalf of the Governor as the Montana natural resource trustee, is in the process of recovering natural resource damages. At some of these sites NRDP works with other Federal and Tribal partners, collectively called the “trustees.” The exact steps for this process vary slightly depending on whether the claim is made under Superfund (CERCLA), State Superfund (CECRA), and/or the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), but generally NRDP proceeds with these steps:

  1. Preassessment Phase: The trustee(s) determine whether to pursue assessment and restoration; this includes the collection of ephemeral (or time-sensitive) data. If trustee(s) decide that a natural resource damage assessment is warranted, they prepare and issue a Preassessment Screen and Notice of Intent to Conduct Restoration Planning (for OPA sites, these are combined into one document).
  2. Assessment Phase (CERCLA) / Restoration Planning Phase (OPA): Trustee(s) evaluate information to determine and quantify potential injuries and use that information to assess the damages. Damages include the cost of the assessment and costs of implementing restoration actions. At the end of this process, the trustee(s) seek to recover damages from the responsible party.
  3. Restoration Implementation Phase: Trustee(s) ensure implementation of restoration.

Sites listed on this page are in the Assessment / Restoration Planning Phase. Sites where the State has settled claims and NRDP is conducting restoration on behalf of the Governor (Restoration Implementation Phase) can be found at our Settlements page.

NRDP

Burlington Northern Livingston Shop Complex

aka BN Livingston

This site, located near Livingston, Montana, includes an active railyard, which began as an industrial railroad and maintenance shop in 1883. Operations at the site since then have resulted in releases of hazardous substances including diesel fuel, chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), metals, and asbestos. NRDP is working cooperatively with BNSF, pursuant to a 1990 Modified Partial Consent Decree between the State and BNSF, to assess injuries to groundwater resulting from the hazardous or deleterious substances released.

Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Plant

aka Anaconda Aluminum Co Columbia Falls Reduction Plant NPL Site

This site is a former aluminum plant operated from 1955 to 2009 near Columbia Falls, Montana. The former aluminum plant borders Teakettle Mountain and the Flathead River. There are approximately 40 contaminants of potential concern, including cyanide, fluoride, arsenic, and polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). NRDP is working with other Federal and Tribal Trustees to evaluate the injuries to natural resources at the site, including groundwater, soils, surface water, sediments, and wildlife.

Lockwood Solvent Ground Water Plume NPL Site

Located near Billings, Montana, this site is adjacent to the Yellowstone River and consists of two operational units spanning 580 acres. On December 2001, the site was placed on the National Priorities List and there is a final cleanup remedy being implemented at the site The groundwater at this site is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) PCE, TCE, cis-1,2-dichlorethene (DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) which are hazardous to human health. NRDP has filed a claim in the Whittaker, Clark and Daniels, Inc. bankruptcy for the injuries to the groundwater related to Operable Unit 2. SOCO West, Inc. is the responsible party and a debtor in the bankruptcy. Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) jointly filed the claim for its costs related to future cleanup of Operable Unit 2.

Reed Point Bridge Derailment

In June 2023, a bridge collapsed and ten train cars derailed into the Yellowstone River. Rail cars containing asphalt liquified petroleum, sulfur, and scrap metal spilled contents into the river. Cleanup is on-going and NRDP is assessing the injuries to natural resources, including surface water, wildlife, recreation, and habitat, resulting from the release of asphalt. Montana Rail Link, the responsible party, has agreed to fund NRDP’s assessment work to date and is working cooperatively with NRDP.

Smurfit-Stone/Frenchtown Mill

(proposed to National Priorities List)

This site is located on the Clark Fork River in western Montana approximately 11 miles northwest of Missoula.  The Site is a former pulp and paper mill and was operated from 1957 to 2010. Industrial activities at the mill resulted in potential releases of hazardous substances including metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dioxins/furans. NRDP is working with other State, Federal, and Tribal Trustees for the site in assessing the injuries to natural resources at the site, including groundwater, surface water, sediments, and fish as well as the lost services from those resources.