Governor Greg Gianforte and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin visited a federal Superfund site in Columbia Falls, Montana, on September 17 to review remediation progress at the former aluminum smelting facility.
Site History and Contamination
The Columbia Falls Aluminum Company (CFAC) plant, located two miles northeast of Columbia Falls, operated from 1955 until 2009. The facility covers approximately 960 acres north of the Flathead River. Decades of aluminum smelting generated hazardous waste that required federal attention.
State and federal agencies identified contamination early in the plant’s operational life. A preliminary assessment by the Montana Department of Health and Sciences in 1984 found hazardous waste at the location. An EPA site evaluation in 1988 revealed that groundwater and surface water contained cyanide and fluoride, while soils held various metals.
The EPA added the site to the federal Superfund National Priorities List in 2016. Ten years after that listing, officials gathered to mark significant milestones in the cleanup process.
Cleanup Agreement and Costs
In July 2026, CFAC agreed to clean up contamination at the site. The company committed to paying $1.8 million for past costs associated with the remediation efforts. Additionally, CFAC is projected to spend $57 million on cleanup actions implemented under the new agreement.
The remedial strategy focuses on consolidating and encapsulating contaminant sources. This approach aims to prevent further contamination of groundwater and the Flathead River. The EPA released a long-term cleanup proposal in June 2023, followed by a Record of Decision signed by the EPA and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in January 2025.
Official Statements
Governor Gianforte emphasized the administration’s focus on community health during the visit. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin, the federal administration is working closely with states to prioritize the health and safety of our communities,” Gov. Gianforte said.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin framed the visit as a demonstration of cooperative federalism. “Today’s visit to the CFAC Superfund site in Columbia Falls, Montana, is yet another example of how advancing cooperative federalism ensures we can provide Montanans with the most pristine air, land, and water,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin.
EPA Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western attributed the site’s progress to collaboration, scientific analysis, and project management. DEQ Director Sonja Nowakowski stated that her agency will work with the EPA and Flathead County to achieve remedial action goals.