Some East Helena properties will be excavated this week as part of the ongoing cleanup effort of the former smelter site, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA announced Monday that yard cleanups are needed to remove lead-contaminated soil. Properties within the East Helena Superfund boundaries with lead levels exceeding the EPA’s safe threshold qualify for remediation.
The surrounding land and groundwater of the former American Smelting and Refining Company, or ASARCO, were contaminated during the smelting plant’s century-long run from the late 1800s to 2001.
Since 2009, about 2,048 acres of the East Helena Superfund Site have been transferred to the Montana Environmental Trust Group. The trust group, the EPA and the city of East Helena have made strides in remediating the land, even turning portions of land into public spaces, including Prickly Pear Park.
The EPA has remediated 1,500 properties in East Helena since 2024, including 700 residential yards and about 800 other locations such as schools, playgrounds and alleys.
About 200 East Helena homes have been identified for the remaining decontamination , EPA Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western told Montana Free Press Tuesday.
“ One of the biggest pieces of criticism I think we get over the years is that we’re not moving fast enough, and quite frankly, that’s true,” Western said. “The East Helena site specifically is another example of us just saying, ‘Look, we know what we need to do. We’ve done the testing and analysis, we need to be reactive and get some of these yards cleaned up.’”
Lead exposure and poisoning can result in health problems, especially in pregnant women, young children and infants, causing harm to the nervous system and brain, according to the World Health Organization.
At the homes, EPA-contracted crews will dig 18 inches into the ground and remove the soil. The lead-filled soil will then be transported to the slag pile at the old smelter site, forming a base layer for a future protective cover, according to an EPA press release. Crews will then fill the yards back in with clean soil taken from neighboring communities and finish by adding sod or other ground cover that matches the yard’s previous appearance.
In 2024, the East Helena Superfund site received $40 million from the federal government’s $1 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which funded cleanup efforts at more than 100 sites across the country. Funding was intended to be used to remove the lead-contaminated soil, among other remediation efforts in the area.
“ This is part of our initiative and the administrator’s initiative to really make real tangible progress, right?” Western said. “ Our number one priority is to deliver results. If you talk to folks in East Helena, and when I’ve talked to folks across Superfund sites across Montana and the region, they just want stuff to get done.”
Western added that the East Helena soil cleanup project will last as long as the weather permits this season and is expected to occur every summer through 2031.
In-depth, independent reporting on the stories impacting your community from reporters who know your town.
LATEST STORIES
How to vote in Montana’s 2026 midterm election
On Oct. 9, local election offices mailed out absentee ballots, which account for the majority of ballots cast in Montana. Many Montanans will have their ballots in hand early next week. Many more are preparing to vote at their local polling place on Election Day, Nov. 3. However you choose to vote, you may have questions. And we have answers.
Four races to watch in Missoula County
Ballots are in the mail, and Missoula County voters will have a variety of races to consider. Although only one county official has a challenger, multiple legislative races are contested.
A solution to climate change? Dressing better.
This summer was the hottest on record in the contiguous U.S., a staggering statistic that can leave many feeling despondent, said Shanti Devins with Climate Smart Missoula, the nonprofit group that founded Climate Solutions Week. The feeling of hopelessness that can accompany climate change awareness, Devins said, is exactly why she and her colleagues launched the annual event. One of the best-loved events is the annual fashion show featuring upcycled and sustainable designs from local makers.
