Montana DEQ issued an emergency permit for removing asbestos containing materials inside and outside the school. The property was closed to students and clean up began immediately within the school property lines. However, there were no local resources available to conduct the clean up of the properties outside the school property lines.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality requested EPA support on January 12, 2026. EPA deployed an On-Scene Coordinator on January 13, 2026.

The objective of this response is to mitigate potential asbestos exposure to the community resulting from the school roof incident. 

Asbestos removal activities will be performed with a strong emphasis on safety and exposure prevention. The following safety practices will be implemented on-site to protect personnel, homeowners, and the surrounding community throughout handling, transport, and disposal operations:

• All workers will be in proper personal protective equipment.
• All workers have stop work authority for safety issues recognized on site.
• EPA personnel and contractors will be especially cautious about slips, trips and falls.
• Safety protocols are in place for operating heavy machinery and navigating around active heavy machinery; including radio for each piece of equipment and each person in the designated hot zone
• Weather-related events, such as heat and cold stress and strong winds, will be closely watched.

For homeowners and the broader community, the main risk from asbestos is from inhaling airborne asbestos. To avoid exposure, please read the best management practices below:

• Clean using wet rags or a mop and a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum. Only HEPA vacuums have small enough filters to catch asbestos particles, regular vacuums can spread contamination. 
•  Use doormats 
• Remove shoes before entering your home 
• Keep windows closed on windy days 
• Avoid dust
• Use water to wet soil before gardening, landscaping, or team sports events
• Wash hands after working outside in the soil
• Spray your patio with water instead of sweeping it 
• Stay on pavement or ground covered with grass or mulch

The objectives for this operational period are the following:

1. Safely mobilize crews and equipment to the site.

2. Assess extent of asbestos containing material released at the site.

3. Obtain access agreements at the relevant properties around the school.

4. Obtain access agreements to conduct work at the impacted county roadways.

5. Begin clean up of county road ways and residential properties impacted by asbestos containing roof material.

Please check back here under, "notices", at the end of the operational period for an update on site accomplishments and any obstacles experienced.

There is a stop work order in place due to high winds. 

The main risk from asbestos is from inhaling airborne asbestos. Follow best management practices below to minimize potential exposure: 

• Clean using wet rags or a mop and a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum. Only HEPA vacuums have small enough filters to catch asbestos particles, regular vacuums can spread contamination. 
• Use doormats 
• Remove shoes before entering your home 
• Keep windows closed on windy days 
• Avoid dust 
• Use water to wet soil before gardening, landscaping, or team sports events 
• Wash hands after working outside in the soil
• Spray your patio with water instead of sweeping it 
• Stay on pavement or ground covered with grass or mulch 

There is a stop work order in place due to high winds. Materials and equipment on site have been stabilized. 

The main risk from asbestos is from inhaling airborne asbestos. Follow best management practices to reduce risk of exposure. 

The status of the objectives for this operational period are the following:

1. Safely mobilize crews and equipment to the site. 
EPA, START, and ERRS mobilized to the site and began work.  A safety stand down occurred on January 15 - 16 due to high winds.  Work continued on January 17.  

2. Assess extent of asbestos containing material released at the site.
Assessments were conducted at properties around the school, using a subject matter expert in vermiculite contamination.  The northern and western boundaries of contamination have been identified.  

3. Obtain access agreements at the relevant properties around the school.
Consent for access was obtained at 19 properties around the school, 13 of those properties will require a removal action.  

4. Obtain access agreements to conduct work at the impacted county roadways.
EPA received permission to conduct removal work at the impacted county roadways and right of ways.  

5. Begin clean up of county road ways and residential properties impacted by asbestos containing roof material.
Due to the asbestos landfill being closed on weekends, removal of contaminated soil and roadways did not begin during this operational period, but is planned to begin during the next operational period.  

The objectives for this operational period are the following:

1. Begin removal of contaminated soil and roadways, beginning adjacent to the school.  

2. Determine the extent of observed asbestos contamination, defining the boundaries of the project.   

3. Obtain consent for access at the impacted properties around the school.

4. Maintain communications with the public, and hold two public Office Hours to update the residents and answer any questions that they may have

Please check back here under, "notices", at the end of the operational period for an update on site accomplishments and any obstacles experienced.