Economic Success: Old Works Golf Course

Old Works/East Anaconda Development Area, was used as the primary smelting and processing area from 1880 to 1902. The area contained over a million and a half cubic yards of soil, slag, and flue dust and was contaminated with a range of pollutants. EPA worked closely with ARCO (the owner of the property) and the community to develop a cleanup plan that not only protected people and the environment, but also preserved its historical significance and allowed for redevelopment. What this partnership unveiled in 1994 was a plan that included cleaning up the contamination and building a top-notch golf course over a portion of the area. They covered the contaminants with 18 to 20 inches of soil, revegetated the area, and installed a state-of-the-art drainage system.