The Flathead County commissioners this week will send a letter to state and federal officials urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to designate Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. a Superfund alternative site.

The commissioners urge those involved in making the Superfund decision to forgo the full-blown Superfund designation. They point to the administrative order of consent that binds plant owner Glencore to spend up to $4 million to investigate the full extent of any contamination at the 960-acre former aluminum processing plant site.

“Glencore has already begun environmentally compliant removal of several buildings at the site and has made significant charitable contributions to the community as a show of good faith,” the commissioners’ letter states.

“Throughout our discussions, the community liaison panel made clear to our EPA representatives that we preferred a Superfund alternative designation over a traditional Superfund listing, so long as Glencore continued to work with the community and abide by the terms of the administrative order of consent.”

The commissioners said they believe the Superfund alternative designation could avoid the stigma of the full Superfund designation “while retaining our options for engaging in the Superfund process later on if necessary.”

They acknowledge the alternative approach could result in a delay in cleanup if Glencore should “walk away” after the remedial investigation feasibility study.

“It’s important for EPA to recognize that this site had been untouched for decades and would likely have remained so had the community not reached out to our elected representatives and the EPA for assistance,” the commissioners wrote. “We did this hoping to remain in control of our fate, not to abdicate it to EPA decision-makers living miles from us. We are sure that you recognize how important this is to a small community such as ours.”

The commissioners’ letter will be sent to Montana’s congressional delegation, Gov. Steve Bullock, local state Sen. Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse, and EPA officials.

EPA Remedial Project Manager Mike Cirian said Tuesday the EPA likely will seek a Superfund designation for the CFAC site this fall.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.