O FFI CE OF THE GOVERNOR S T AT E OF' MONTAN A S TEVE B ULLOC J< G OVERNOR ANGELA M c L EAN L T
. GOVERNOR

Feb ru ary 17 , 20 1 5
Shaun L. McGrath- Regional Adm ini strator U nited Sta t es Env ironmen t al Protection Agency, Region 8 1595 Wynko o p Street, 8RA Denver, Co lorado 80 202 -1 129 Subject: Federal Superfund Li s tin g of Columb ia Falls Al uminum Plant Dear Mr. McGrath: l w ri te to offer my s upp o rt for li st ing the idled Co lumbia Fal ls A luminum Plant located near Co lumbi a Falls on th e Supe r fund Nat ional Priority List (NPL). Samp le results from the in vest igati o n s how that historical activit ies a t the s ite ha ve contam in ated groundwa t e r a nd su rfa ce wa t e r o r se diment s in Cedar Creek and the Flat head R iver. I am concerned that if this iss ue remains un a ddre ssed, the co ntamination from the s ite i s se ri ous e nough to pose long-term risks to th e community a nd to Montana's e nvironment , including the F lat head River. It i s my understanding that there is s ufficient data to ju s tif y an N PL li s ting. Most imp o rt ant l y, th ere is widesp r ead loc a l s upport for NPL l isting of the site to ensu r e appropriate c leanup th at wi ll ultimately allow fo r redevelopment of th e site . Public comments provi d ed during the most r ece nt Env ironmental Prot ec tion Agency (EPA) and Montana Depa rtm e nt of Environm e nt a l Qua lity (DEQ) meeting , a nd letters the state has received from the Columb ia Falls Ci ty Co un ci l a nd F la thead Bas in Comm ission, d e monstrate thi s su pp o rt (attac h ed). If th e si te is li sted on th e N PL , I request that EPA take th e fo ll owing steps:
• Suppor t a nd maintain a c lose work in g relationship with D EQ as you proceed w ith further characterizat ion and cle a nup. • Encourage community involvement and coordination with Co lu mb ia Falls and Flath ead County.

S T ATE CAPITOL • P.O
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. MT
. GOVFebruary 17,2015 S h aun L. McGrath Page 2 • Ba sed upon concerns we have heard fro m local residents that u se p ri va te wells fo r d rinking water, continue pe r iodic residential we ll samplin g unt i l there is suffic i ent d ata or cleanup to indicate that contam in atio n of r es idential wel ls is not a po t e nti al ri sk . • Where possible, use local contrac t o rs that can maximi ze the po t en ti a l for local emp loyme nt in the investigation and c leanup process. • Co n side r the loca l co mmunit y's redevelopment goals when eva lua ti ng c leanup needs. T he plant was a cr iti ca l part of the economy or Co lumbia Falls and the s ite has b ee n idle fo r t oo long . I t ha s tr e mendous potential fo r redeve lopmen t and w ill be an important ancho r in the future of the r egio n . Time i s of the essence. I app r ec i ate EPA 's effo rts, and have direc ted DEQ to provide ass is tance as the listing process, s it e c h aracterizat ion, cleanup plans and c leanup implementation proceed. As always, I s trongly urge yo u to over see a process that ensu r es protection of human health and the env ironment while being timel y, tran s parent, and cos teffcctive. Please work w ith Tom Livers, Director of DEQ , and hi s s ta ff as you move forward.



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## ~~~ T EYE BULLOCK Governor Attac hm ent ( 1)
cc: Senator Steve Daines Senator J o n Tester Representative R yan Zinke Mart in H cstmark, EPA R eg ion 8 James Woolford , E P A Headquarters Tom Liv e rs, Di r ec tor , Montana DEQ Donald Barnhart , Mayor , City of' Co lumbia Falls F l

at head Coun ty Co mmi ssione rs Joe Russel l , F lat head County Health Department Julie DalSoglio , EPA Montana Office Rob Parker. EPA Den ve r