Yard cleanups officially underway in East Helena

HELENA, Mont. (July 27, 2026) -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the start of remedial action in East Helena, Montana, to clean up yards affected by lead from former smelter operations. Yards with a whole-yard average of 400 parts per million or greater soil-lead content in the current East Helena Superfund site boundary qualify for cleanup. Cleanup is being carried out through an interagency agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which awarded Weston Solutions with the remedial action contract in April 2026.

"Accelerating cleanups in communities is a major priority for EPA, and today's announcement shows how collaboration and smart project management can lead to major progress in achieving EPA's core mission of protecting human health and the environment," said EPA Region 8 Regional Administrator Cyrus Western. "EPA is proud to deliver quality cleanups to the vibrant and growing community of East Helena, helping protect the community and reduce the potential for lead exposure."

Residents in East Helena will see trucks, equipment, and workers in personal protective equipment as yard excavations and replacements begin. Dust suppression methods will prevent the transport of potentially contaminated soil and dust in the air, and crews will employ air monitoring equipment.

Yards that have been sampled and show 400 ppm or greater lead content will be cleaned up on an individual basis with close consultation between property owners and cleanup contractors. It is important to note that sampling and cleanup can only occur if a property owner grants written permission.

Cleanups in 2026 will focus on priority properties where there is a higher concentration of lead in the soil, where there are significant exposure concerns, or where vulnerable populations-such as young children-live. Cleanups will continue over the next five years. Contaminated soil removed from affected yards will be placed on the slag pile near the site of the former ASARCO smelter, where it could eventually provide a base for a future protective cover of the slag pile.

Residents can reach out to the EPA site team at [email protected] with questions or attend office hours at Galaxy Roasting in East Helena on Thursdays from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm.

Background

Hundreds of yards and properties were cleaned up in East Helena under a previous 1,000 ppm lead-in-soils action level. In early 2024, the EPA East Helena site team finalized a plan to lower the residential soil-lead cleanup level to 400 ppm, opening up cleanup for hundreds of properties that previously did not qualify for remediation.

Lead exposure and lead poisoning can cause health problems, especially for young children, who are especially sensitive to the harmful effects of lead on cognitive and behavioral development. Simple behaviors, like hand-washing before eating and removing shoes when entering the home, can significantly reduce potential exposure to lead in soil.