Coalition for a Clean CFAC Hosts Community Outreach Meetings August 20-21 Public Comment from citizens for a Better FlatheadFrom:Mayre Flowers
To:becker.kc@epa.gov; Balliew, Carolina; Jenkins, Katherine; John Muhlfeld; Michelle Howke; Mark Johnson;Kalispell Meetings Public Comment; Brad.Abell@flathead.mt.gov; Randy Brodehl;Pam.Holmquist@flathead.mt.gov; cocontactus@flathead.mt.gov; rich.janssen@cskt.org; info@cskt.org;Chelsea.Colwyn@cskt.org; Chauncey Means; Erik_Nylund@tester.senate.gov; Dorrington, Matthew;staalandb@cityofcolumbiafalls.com; Chad_Campbell@tester.senate.gov; Devlin, Katie (Daines); Dick Sloan;jrankosky@flathead.mt.gov; Tom.bansak@umontana.edu; jim.elser@flbs.umt.edu; Mike Koopal;casey.lewis@mt.gov; samantha@flatheadcd.org; Cc: Mayre Flowers
Cc:Mayre Flowers
Subject:EXTERNAL Coalition for a Clean CFAC Hosts Community Outreach Meetings August 20-21
Date:Tuesday, August 13, 2024 6:21:49 PM
Attachments:CFAC Press Release w-logo_Public Meeting Aug 20-21, 2024.pdf
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Please see the attached press release with details about these meetings. You are invited to attend,though we realize that travel may be a barrier. We will follow up with you with a summary of whatwe learn. Note that similar meetings are being scheduled for September and October and we hope to
finalize those dates later this week. Thanks to everyone for your interest and support of our sharedgoal to engage the broader community on this issue so critical to the community’s health, theenvironment, and the local economy.
Mayre Flowers, on behalf of the Coalition for a Clean CFACMayre@Flatheadcitizens.org , 406-755-4521 H, 406-253-0872 Cell,
Press Release for immediate release –
Contact: Phil Matson, Coalition for a Clean CFAC,
406-249-2529, flbsphil@gmail.com
August 10, 2024
Hazardous Waste Expert Will Be Available to Discuss CFAC Superfund
Cleanup
The Coalition For A Clean CFAC will be hosting public meetings on August 20
and 21. These meetings invite the public’s input regarding the proposed Columbia
Falls Aluminum Plant (CFAC) Superfund cleanup plan. The August presentation
and discussion sessions will focus on the barriers and opportunities to removing
some or all of the waste from the CFAC Superfund site. Karmen King, as an
independent expert and consultant on Superfund site cleanup projects around the
country, will be part of the presentation. She is a compliance and ecological risk
expert with many years of experience in community cleanups of hazardous waste
Superfund sites. Her presence and support for the community is through a unique
EPA (Federal Environmental Protection Agency) program that supports
independent analysis of superfund cleanup plans led by affected communities.
King and some of the Coalition members leading efforts to do a deep dive into the
remedial investigations will present some tentative findings from their research and
take questions. Public participation and feedback are crucial for the EPA, who is
the final decision-maker, to get the cleanup accomplished with the community’s
best interest in mind.
The Coalition commends the Columbia Falls and Flathead Valley community for
participation these past few months in the CFAC/Glencore-sponsored community
meetings where CFAC consultants presented their plan and arguments for
primarily leaving the toxic waste in place. However, these August Coalition-
hosted meetings are designed to be different as they will feature recent independent
research and be interactive with the opportunity for community members to raise
and discuss questions and identify additional concerns.
Coalition Board member, Phil Matson says, “EPA’s own research and survey of
residents in 2022 demonstrated the public wanted assistance with having
independent consultants review and help analyze some 10,000 pages of documents
that are being used to justify Glencore’s recommendation not to move this highly
toxic waste. This toxic waste sits next to the Flathead River on glacier till soils
where large fluctuations in groundwater levels occur. This waste sits in unlined
landfills, with a history of long-term seepage of unknown quantities of toxic
chemicals moving slowly into the River, while the site lies along a fault zone prone
to earthquakes and is subject to potential flood events. Does the cleanup plan
satisfactorily address or mitigate these issues?” We think an independent look is
needed to answer questions like this. Your voice is essential to help with this
review.
On Wednesday, August 20th from 7-9 p.m. at the Glacier Gateway Elementary
School (new building, main entrance), 440 4th Ave. West, Columbia Falls, a
general community meeting will be held. There will be updates presented by
Coalition members regarding information gleaned from the first set of questions
they are focusing on regarding contaminated waste removal. Ms. King will help
lead the Question and Answer session.
Also, on Wednesday, August 20 from 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. the public is
welcome to drop by Glacier Gateway Elementary School to give Karmen King an
opportunity to meet the community and provide an additional opportunity for the
public to ask questions or share concerns.
August 21st from 11:30-1pm a no-host drop in-lunch time will be available in
Columbia Falls for invited business and community leaders to meet Ms. King and
have questions and concerns heard. The location is yet to be determined. Because
space is limited, please RSVP by calling 406- 890-1659.
These public meetings are designed to be interactive and to assist the public in
getting the information they need to both understand what is being proposed and
what could be possible. “This is an exciting opportunity for residents in the
Flathead Valley to be heard”, said Shirley Folkwein, a Board member of the
Coalition. “We all live next to or downstream from the Flathead River and making
sure the toxic waste at the CFAC site is cleaned up is vital to us all and to future
generations.”
Additional interactive community meetings will be held in September and October
(dates/times and locations TBD.
For more information, please email coalition@cleancfac.org