No negative health effects from demolition of three smelter stacks.
Air sampling tests show that the demolition of three smelter stacks at the ASARCO smelter in East Helena in August did not produce negative health effects, the state Department of Environmental Quality said Friday.
“The data confirms that this demolition was carried out safely and successfully,” DEQ Director Richard Opper said.
The DEQ also concluded that the stack demolition’s impacts on air quality did not violate the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which are designed to protect public health.
As part of the ongoing federal Environmental Protection Agency-directed cleanup of the smelter in East Helena, ASARCO demolished three industrial stacks at its East Helena facility Aug. 14. Because of concerns about the possible health impacts of dust, the DEQ captured an air quality sample in the vicinity of the site during and immediately following the demolition event.
Further details here.
