Montana has a rich history of natural resource and energy development which began in the 1860s during the western gold rush and continues through present day. This history has contributed to the identification of many sites and communities throughout the state where cleanup of hazardous substances is needed. Presently, investigation and cleanup are occurring at over 200 federal and state Superfund sites, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous solid waste sites. There are also over 600 Brownfields sites in Montana, many of which are undergoing assessment and cleanup. In addition, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality has identified over 900 leaking underground petroleum storage tank sites with ongoing remediation and monitoring. Assessment of the presence and nature of health hazards at many of these sites is needed to prevent further exposures and reduce resulting illnesses in Montana communities.
This cooperative agreement funds the Montana Environmental Health Education and Assessment Program (MEHEA) staff, including the State Toxicologist, Environmental Health Assessor, and Health Educator, in the Public Health and Safety Division of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). It also funds a small portion of the salary for the Acting State Medical Officer, who has a background in environmental medicine.
The MEHEA program and Medical Officer provide technical expertise at the state level to address community health concerns and assess public health problems at hazardous waste sites. The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to: (1) identify pathways of human exposure to harmful substances in the environment and assess potential health hazards at hazardous waste sites to help prevent or reduce exposure and associated illnesses; (2) build on Montana’s capacity to respond to citizens’ needs for assistance with harmful substance exposures and prevention strategies; (3) strengthen collaborative relationships with federal, state, and local partners; (4) engage communities and stakeholders through meetings, presentations, public health messaging, and dissemination of environmental health education materials; and (5) implement and sustain Montana’s Choose Safe Places for Early Care and Education (CSPECE) program.
MEHEA will work with agency partners and local health jurisdictions to conduct and share site-specific findings on the following National Priorities List sites or sites of greatest public health significance: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit, Smurfit Stone Mill, Columbia Falls Aluminum Company, Billings Tetrachloroethene (PCE), and Butte’s Greeley Neighborhood. MEHEA will provide technical assistance and health education to partner organizations, community members, and stakeholders for additional sites such as the Anaconda Company Smelter, East Helena Lead Smelter, Libby Asbestos Operable Unit 3, and military bases with PFAS concerns. We aim to engage communities, organizations, and stakeholders on site-specific exposures and other environmental hazards in the state via a variety of activities to increase partner buy in, acceptance, and implementation of MEHEA’s health recommendations. As a result, we expect to decrease, eliminate, or prevent exposures to harmful substances in communities across Montana.
Finally, MEHEA staff will work with agency, organizational, and community partners to address children’s environmental health through the CSPECE program. This collaborative network will provide MEHEA with increased partner buy in and support and increase process and system changes to support exposure prevention at existing and prospective early care and education centers. MEHEA will also work to promote safe siting education among stakeholders and create resources and tools for partners and stakeholders to manage the program independently for long-term sustainability.
