OSWER/OSRTI

Washington, DC 20460

NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) 

***Proposed Site*** May 2013 

SMURFIT-STONE MILL Missoula, Montana

Missoula County

 Site Location:

The Smurfit-Stone Mill site is an inactive integrated pulp and paper mill located in west-central Montana, 

approximately 12 miles northwest of the city of Missoula, in Missoula County. 

 Site History:

The mill property covers approximately 3,150 acres, 900 acres of which consists of a series of unlined impoundments. 

Approximately 150 industrial acres of the property have not been characterized and 1,800 acres is currently used for 

agricultural purposes. The site began operation as a pulp mill in the fall of 1957 and then later produced paper and 

cardboard box components. The mill filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2009 and ceased operations in 

January 2010. 

 Site Contamination/Contaminants:

Samples from sludge ponds, an emergency spill pond and a wastewater storage pond contain dioxins and furans, and

several metals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, manganese and zinc. 

 Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment: 

Contaminants have been released into ground water beneath the site, as well as O’Keefe Creek and the Clark Fork 

River (both located directly adjacent to the site). The Clark Fork River is a fishery that supports a variety of finfish, 

including the federally-designated threatened bull trout, and other species that are harvested for human consumption. 

Both O’Keefe Creek and the Clark Fork River contain significant areas of wetlands. The segment of the Clark Fork 

River directly adjacent to the site is listed as a Wildlife Protected Area for bald eagle nesting territory, a high-density 

bald eagle winter concentration area, a big game critical wintering/spring area and a historical peregrine falcon nesting 

area. The site also lies within the Clark Fork River – Grass Valley Important Bird Area, designated due to its 

significance to bird species of conservation concern. 

 Response Activities (to date):

There have been no response activities to date.

 Need for NPL Listing:

The release of hazardous substances, the overall size of the site, and areas/wetlands supporting sensitive populations of 

fish and bird species will require significant time and resources to clean up. Therefore listing this site on the NPL 

would be the most effective approach for cleaning up contamination. Other federal and state cleanup programs were 

evaluated, but are not viable at this time. The EPA received a letter of support from the state of Montana for placing 

this site on the NPL.

[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may 

change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. See 56 FR 5600, February 11, 1991, or subsequent 

FR notices.]

For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to 

these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on 

the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.