CFAC Coalition hires technical advisor, meetings coming up

The Columbia Falls-based nonprofit Coalition for a Clean CFAC recently announced the signing of a contract with Ian Magruder, Senior Hydrogeologist at WWC Engineering, Helena, to serve as technical advisor for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. Superfund cleanup through a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Technical Assistance Grant program

 His role will be to meet with EPA, Montana Department of Environmental Quality and CFAC representatives regularly, review, interpret and explain technical reports, site conditions, and EPA’s cleanup proposals and decisions concerning the CFAC Superfund site, the coalition said in a release.  He will make this information available to the Coalition Board of Directors as well as in public presentations in Columbia Falls.

“We’ve been fighting an uphill battle ever since our local officials suddenly changed their stance, and it is a relief to have a truly independent voice in this Superfund cleanup,” claimed Phil Matson, Coalition Board member and Grant Administrator.

Magruder has 25 years of experience as a professional hydrogeologist and environmental consultant with extensive expertise working on toxic and hazardous waste sites, Superfund, water supplies, water rights, discharge and wastewater permitting, and water quality issues.  He has served for over 23 years as a technical advisor for a community Superfund Technical Assistance Group in Butte, one of the oldest Superfund sites in the U.S.  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s TAG program is a national program providing money to community groups to pay for technical advisors. The advisors are independent of the EPA and entities responsible for the pollution and cleanup (Potentially Responsible Party) and are intended to represent community interests in the Superfund cleanup process. 

“In my experience, residents are empowered by having a technical advisor who represents them and is involved in the Superfund cleanup process. They get a better understanding of risks caused by a contaminated site, better understanding of proposed cleanup plans, and gives people the confidence to fight for a cleanup that will protect their community,” Magruder said in the release.

The Coalition was formed in 2024 to secure the comprehensive cleanup of the CFAC Superfund site for the health, enjoyment, and economic benefit of the local community and the protection of the Flathead watershed.

This is a particularly crucial time to add an independent technical advisor to provide Superfund  cleanup information to the public, the Coalition claimed.  CFAC, EPA and DEQ officials will be presenting their updates on cleanup efforts at the Liaison Panel meeting May 27 (today) from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at The Hub in Columbia Falls.  Secondly, Columbia Falls City Council will hold a public hearing to determine their response to the Teakettle Heights Subdivision, planned for 78 acres on the Superfund site.  

That hearing is June 1 at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers.

The on the ground cleanup of the old aluminum plant site is expected to start in 2027.