HELENA — Federal environmental regulators say an investigation will begin this month to gauge the extent of contamination at a former pulp mill along the Clark Fork River in Frenchtown.
Environmental Protection Agency officials say they made an agreement with three companies that will conduct the investigation: M2Green, International Paper and WestRock.
The companies will analyze soil, river sediment, ground water and surface water at the Smurfit Stone Mill Superfund site, with the goal of identifying options to clean the site.
EPA regional administrator Shaun McGrath said in a statement Thursday the investigation will allow the agency to fully identify and address threats to health and the environment.
The site near the Clark Fork River is contaminated with dioxins, furans, arsenic and manganese associated with the former mill’s wastewater and sludge ponds.