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Glencore Responds to Tester’s CFAC Letter

Company promises open dialogue regarding EPA cleanup, commitment to site’s future

By Beacon Staff
A sign points to the CFAC plant in Columbia Falls. Beacon file photo

A manager for Glencore, the company that owns the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company site, has promised it is committed to a “long term, sustainable solution” for the shuttered plant.

The statement came in response to a strongly worded letter from U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, who on June 3 wrote to two Glencore managers, Patrick Wilson and Charles Watenphul, inquiring about the company’s plans for the future of the plant, expressing his “ongoing concerns about Glencore’s intentions with regard to the CFAC site,” and explaining that “the community remains understandably concerned about the future of CFAC.”

Glencore addressed the fate of CFAC in a letter to Tester on June 17.

“Our commitment to meaningful and open dialogue in this regards remains unchanged,” Watenphul stated.

Glencore is aware of the preliminary testing that was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the resulting report and community meeting, he said, and the company continues to analyze the potential implications of the report.

“You will appreciate that these are complex issues and we need time to ensure that they are properly assessed with a view to formulating the best sustainable solution for the site. Please also be aware that CFAC has notifed the previous owner of the property, Atlantic Richfield Company and BP plc, about their obligations in respect of any potential remediation of the site.”

Recent reports from the state Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have shown the site could be eligible for Superfund status, but Glencore, a Swiss commodities firm, has never explained what it would like to do with the property.

In the years following the plant’s closure in 2009, politicians and local leaders, including Tester, have attempted to work out deals with Glencore to reopen the plant, but the site has remained shuttered, and appears more likely to be the subject of a cleanup effort than it is to reopen.

In April, EPA and DEQ officials held a town hall meeting in Columbia Falls to discuss the results of a recent study that found the land in and around the CFAC plant was contaminated with various metals and chemicals, including cyanide and fluoride. The EPA advised CFAC that the follow up sampling from the neighborhood wells did not contain any detections of cyanide.

“We understand that the EPA has sent letters to residents advising them of this result,” Watenphul said.

Glencore has appointed rePlan to help get a better understanding of the impact on the various stakeholders, he said.

Tester has been critical of the entire process up until now.

“As a result of this recent activity, several constituents have contacted me to inquire about Glencore’s intentions. I share their interest in knowing what, if any, plans you are considering for the CFAC property at this juncture, and I look forward to a prompt update from you.”

Watenphul responded by reassuring Tester that the company is intent on moving forward with a plan.

“I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that should CFAC embark on any path that would have major long term implications for the property; this will be communicated to all stakeholders promptly,” he wrote.

Glencore plans to meet with the EPA and local officials next month, according to Watenphul.