The Beaver Wood Products Site (Site) is a former wood treatment facility located on US Highway 2, approximately two miles east of Columbia Falls, Flathead County, Montana. The facility produced chemically-treated wood poles with a solution of pentachlorophenol (PCP) and petroleum-based oils to prevent decay.
Over the years, these operations led to extensive soil contamination from chemicals including PCP, petroleum hydrocarbons, and dioxins in areas around the site’s treatment tanks, storage yards, and drying areas.
Site investigations conducted by the EPA between 1987 and 1999 found elevated levels of these contaminants in soil and groundwater on the site.
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- 1987 – 1999: EPA conducted multiple site investigations and confirmed contamination of PCP, petroleum hydrocarbons, and dioxins/furans.
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- 1991: EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order which required the Potential Responsible Party (PRP) to construct a fence around the contaminated areas and place a gravel cover.
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- 2000 – 2005: EPA carried out a Time Critical Removal Action (TCRA) to reduce contamination and protect nearby communities.
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- Contaminated soil was excavated, treated, and capped.
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- PCP levels in soil were reduced to meet cleanup standards based on commercial and industrial land use at that time. There was no apparent or anticipated residential use at the site at that time.
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- The TCRA successfully lowered risks, but residual contamination remains on the site.
Since the early cleanup, EPA’s understanding of dioxin and furan health risk has advanced, and safety standards have become more protective.
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- In 2017, 2021, and 2023, EPA collected additional soil and groundwater samples for testing.
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- Results show some dioxin and furan levels remain above current residential cleanup standards. Please see the sampling report found under documents on this website.
