The 3,200-acre Smurfit-Stone Mill site is located 11 miles northwest of Missoula, Montana. A pulp mill operated on site from 1957 to 2010. The core industrial footprint of the mill site covers about 100 acres. Over 900 acres of the site consist of a series of unlined ponds used to store treated and untreated wastewater effluent from the mill, as well as primary sludge recovered from untreated wastewater. Some ponds initially used to store wastewater were subsequently drained and used for the landfilling of solid wastes from the mill. The Potential Responsible Parties are currently performing a Superfund Remedial Investigation under the oversight of USEPA's Remedial Program.

The Site is positioned along the Clark Fork River just outside Missoula, MT. The area is currently undergoing historically significant flooding event.  USEPA and stakeholders are monitoring the berm that separates the Site from the river for signs of instability.

The Potential Responsible Parties (PRP) are currently performing a stability analysis of the berm and is collecting information that could be used to model impacts to the Site should a failure of the berm occur.  The PRP is also monitoring conditions along the berm and has collected samples to determine if contaminated water on-site is impacting the river.  Furthermore, the PRP has also brought in fill material to fortify one area along the berm.  USEPA deployed a Response Team to the Site on May 24, 2018 to provide assistance.

1. Perform a visual inspection of the berm along the Clark Fork River.

2. Formalize current monitoring efforts and develop a GIS-based Common Operating Picture to distribute this information.

3. Develop an Interim Contingency Plan to support response efforts should a failure of the berm occur.

4. Recommend components for inclusion in a long-term Monitoring and Contingency Plan.

USEPA met with Missoula County officials and representatives Potential Responsible Parties at the Site. USEPA's Field Team performed a visual inspection of the berm and gathered data and information. The Team formalized ongoing monitoring procedures, identified areas of interest along the berm and proposed response requirements should the berm be breached. These requirements included notifications to key stakeholders and downstream intakes, prioritizing areas for protection on-site, conducting downstream sampling, staging or identifying the location of response resources, and a documenting a general approach to repairing the berm.

USEPA's Response Unit developed and released the following Interim Contingency Plan in consultation with Missoula County and representatives of the Potential Responsible Parties. This document includes recommendations for development of a Final Contingency Plan.

Interim Contingency Plan.pdf