Construction season at UBMC comes to a close

The construction season at the Upper Blackfoot Mining Complex is expected to draw to a close this week with the completion of winterization work at the site.

According to Karen Ogden, Community Involvement Coordinator for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, work that has been successfully completed this year includes the removal and reconstruction of the stream channel and flood plain from the confluence of Mike Horse and Bear Trap Creeks down to the Water Treatment Plant. Known as the Base Bid for this year's construction, it was the minimum area they wanted to complete work on this year. Construction began later than usual this year since the bid package for the work wasn't released until early June.

Removal of contaminated material was also completed for in Additive Alternative Area A below the plant, roughly halfway down to the project area boundary, and waste hauling began on Additive Alternative Area B, the final section of the Blackfoot River down to the project-area boundary near the Edith Mine site. Removal of the last of the mine waste within that area is expected to be completed next year.

Ogden also confirmed that crews had completed the temporary cap on the UBMC Repository, near Highway 279 on Section 35, last week.

Ogden said the remaining remediation work on AreasA and B will be completed next year under the existing contract, while restoration work on both areas will be completed under a separate contract.

The road closures in the Mike Horse area hadn't been lifted at press time, but Ogden said they expected the Forest Service to lift them within the next few days.

A public meeting to update the community on the UBMC clean-up hasn't been scheduled yet, but they are planning to hold one in December, once scheduling can be coordinated.