Why was the Milltown dam removed?

MILLTOWN, Montana (Reuters) – Engineers breached a hydroelectric dam in Montana on Friday, the first time an American dam was removed to clean up toxic sediments captured behind it from years of mining upriver.

When was Milltown dam removed?

Ten years ago on March 28, 2008, construction workers breached the Milltown Dam and allowed the Clark Fork River to flow freely for the first time in 100 years.

Which is a major Superfund site contaminated with toxic mining sediments?

The Milltown Reservoir Sediments site is located in Milltown, Montana. The site is part of a larger Superfund site, known as the Milltown Reservoir Sediments/Clark Fork River site.

Where is the Milltown dam?

Montana
The Milltown dam and reservoir were located in Milltown, Montana, about 4 miles upstream of downtown Missoula. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed the area on the federal Superfund site list in 1983 based on high levels of arsenic detected in area drinking water wells.

Why was the Milltown Dam built?

The dam was located about seven miles east of Missoula, Montana, at the confluence of the Blackfoot River with the Clark Fork. Built in 1908 by copper mining tycoon William A. Clark, it was meant to supply hydroelectricity to his sawmills in nearby Bonner, Montana.

Where are the most Superfund sites?

Superfund sites by state The states with the most Superfund sites were New Jersey (113 sites), California (97 sites) and Pennsylvania (95 sites). The states with the fewest Superfund sites were North Dakota (no sites), Nevada (one site) and South Dakota (two sites).

Why is it called Superfund?

The program is designed to investigate and clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances. Sites managed under this program are referred to as “Superfund” sites.

What is a safe distance to live from a Superfund site?

Superfund Sites – Environmental Hazards This vapor intrusion then poses further risk to nearby residents, inside of their homes where they would otherwise be inclined to feel safe. Obviously, proximity to a Superfund site is critical; four miles’ distance poses a decreased health risk as compared to a mere forty feet.