Welcome to Montanans for a Clean Future.

The environmental and health concerns surrounding the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Superfund site in Flathead County, Montana, have been exposed.

Once the region’s largest employer, this aluminum plant fueled the local economy after World War II. Still, it left behind a toxic legacy that continues to threaten our community’s well-being. Today, every Montanan has a constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment, and together we’re standing up to ensure that right is honored in Columbia Falls.

From Economic Engine to Superfund Site

• Historical Importance: Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. (CFAC) opened in 1955, providing over 1,500 jobs at its peak and contributing significantly to the local community's development. It was the largest employer in Flathead County for decades.
• Pollution Discovered: Officials began noticing environmental harm from the plant’s operations in 1969. The U.S. Forest Service documented damage to nearby vegetation and wildlife caused by pollutants from the smelter’s emissions.
• Superfund Designation: The plant closed in 2009, and in 2016, the EPA added the 2,400-acre site to the National Priorities List (Superfund) due to extensive contamination. For years, investigators found toxins seeping into soil and groundwater around the facility.
• Toxic Contaminants: Fluoride, cyanide, arsenic, and various metals are among roughly 40 dangerous substances identified at the site. These came from decades of aluminum production byproducts (such as spent potliner waste) and have been found in the soil and water. Cyanide and fluoride levels, in particular, formed a contaminated groundwater plume under the plant, raising concerns about potential impacts on future residents' drinking water.

After years of study, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its long-awaited Record of Decision (ROD) in January 2025, finalizing a cleanup plan for the CFAC Superfund site. The EPA’s plan calls for contaminant containment on-site rather than full removal – in other words, leaving the toxic waste in place but secured with barriers (such as slurry walls, specialized liners, and a new landfill cap) and subjecting it to long-term monitoring. Federal and state regulators estimate the active cleanup will take 2–4 years once it begins.

However, many Columbia Falls residents and local officials feel this plan doesn’t go far enough to protect the community. A local grassroots coalition and Flathead County commissioners have criticized the EPA’s decision to leave an estimated 1 million cubic yards of contaminated soil buried on-site instead of requiring it to be excavated and removed. 

“Remove it, don’t just cover it up.”

Local advocates have been vocal. “We have one chance to get this right,” one Columbia Falls resident urged, emphasizing that a complete removal would eliminate the burden on future generations. 

What About PFAS? – The “Forever Chemicals” Overlooked

There is a gap in EPA’s investigation, and it is the issue of PFAS contamination. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often called “forever chemicals,” are man-made chemicals known for their persistence and toxicity. They can linger in the environment and the human body for thousands of years, and even tiny doses have been linked to cancers, hormone disruption, immune system harm, and other serious health problems.

Despite national alarm about PFAS, the EPA did not test for PFAS at the CFAC site during its initial investigation. At the time, PFAS were not yet on the EPA’s list of hazardous substances to be addressed under Superfund law. 

For Montana, this is a red flag. PFAS are arguably the most persistent and dangerous pollutants of our time; they bioaccumulate in people and wildlife, they resist breaking down, and they have been linked to cancers and other diseases. Leaving them unregulated in a cleanup is unacceptable for a community that values clean water and health. Montanans have every reason to be concerned when a Superfund cleanup “doesn’t cover” a whole class of toxins that science tells us are extremely harmful.

Environmental quality isn’t just a luxury. It’s your right. Montana’s Constitution explicitly guarantees “the right to a clean and healthful environment” to each person. This powerful provision means state and local governments have a duty to prevent degradation of our water, air, and land. It also gives citizens leverage to demand action when our environment (and by extension, our health) is threatened.

The situation in Columbia Falls has galvanized residents to invoke that right. Community meetings in 2024 drew crowds of concerned families, and a grassroots movement has called on Montana’s state authorities to step in where the federal plan falls short. 

The message is clear: Montanans will not settle for a half-done cleanup. We expect a healthy and safe place to live, as is our right.

AND SO…the State of Montana is responding. Separate from the EPA’s Superfund remediation, the Montana Department of Justice’s Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP) has launched an effort to assess and restore the natural resources damaged by the decades of pollution at CFAC. Simply put, while EPA handles the cleanup of the toxic mess, NRDP’s job is to figure out what harm was done to Montana’s environment – the water, soil, wildlife, etc. – and how to make it right. This could include projects like habitat restoration, replacing contaminated groundwater resources, or even compensating the community for injuries suffered.

Public input is a big part of this process. The NRDP, along with federal and tribal trustees, released a Draft Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan for the CFAC site in June 2025. And importantly, they have opened it up for public comment, and extended the comment period due to community interest. Originally set to close sooner, the public comment window is now open until July 23, 2025. This is a golden opportunity for Montana citizens to voice their concerns, priorities, and ideas for how the site’s cleanup and restoration should proceed.

AVA Law Group is proud to stand alongside the Columbia Falls community in this fight for a clean and safe environment. We believe no one should suffer health harms from corporate pollution without recourse. Our team has been following the CFAC Superfund developments closely, and we’re committed to supporting those affected.

Free Case Evaluation: If you or your loved ones live near the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company site and believe that exposure to the plant’s toxic pollutants has impacted your health – whether it be cancers, respiratory issues, or other illnesses – please reach out to us for a free case evaluation. 

Contact Us Today: You can call us at 406-333-3333 or email help@avalaw.com to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. 

Remember, standing up for a clean environment is a community effort, but it’s also your personal right. Montana law is on your side. AVA Law Group is ready to help uphold that right in the legal arena while the community fights for change on the ground.

Together, let’s ensure Columbia Falls’ future is one where clean water, clean soil, and healthy families are non-negotiable. Thank you for caring about this critical issue and taking action to make a difference.