Urges people to get involved with CFAC damage program

The May 28th Hungry Horse News included an informative story about the Natural Resource Damage Program and Assessment Plan in regard to the Columbia Falls Aluminum Plant. As stated, the Natural Resource Damage Program is part of the Superfund law but is a separate program, actually a state program housed in the Montana Dept. of Justice. While the Superfund cleanup plan deals with remediation of the toxic waste, the NRDP focuses on restoration of the natural resources damaged by the operation of the Plant.

On June 10th representatives from the NRDP were in Columbia Falls and provided an informative public presentation explaining the purpose and process used to move forward with determining the damage and “recouping” the cost of restoration. 

The draft assessment is available at https://dojmt.gov.nrdp/notices-of-public-comment/ and public comments are being solicited through July 23rd (period extended since the May 28th story).

However, those of us in attendance at the June 10th meeting had many questions that the NRDP representatives were unable to answer and indicated they would refer to the EPA and then post the responses on the NRDP website. In light of the need for additional time for seeking and posting the responses and the public needing more time to review the draft assessment and the responses to our questions, we are requesting an additional 60-day extension of time to allow for public comment. 

We are also requesting an additional public meeting be held in Columbia Falls to allow community members more opportunity to engage with the Natural Resource Damage Program. In light of the tremendous turnout of community members for Superfund public meetings we believe the Columbia Falls and Flathead communities will seize this opportunity for protection and restoration of our natural resources that define us as a community.

You can help by submitting a request the Natural Resource Damage Program asking for an additional public meeting and to extend the public comment deadline to mid-September. Email to: nrdp@mt.gov with subject line “CFAC Draft Assessment Plan Meeting & Extension Request.”

Shirley Folkwein

Coalition for a Clean CFAC

Columbia Falls