US Environmental Protection Agency
10 West 15th Street. Suite 3200
Helena, Montana 59626
Tver Johnson
MDEQ RCRA Project Officer
406-444-5852
Jon Nickel
Asarco Plant Environmental Manager
406-227-4529
CONTACTS
Denise Kirkpatrick
MDEQ RCRA Project Officer
406-444-3983
Linda Jacob son
EPA RCRA Project Manager
1-800-227-8917 x 6503 (toll free)
Jan Williams/Debb Tillo
EH Lead Education
406-227-8451
Wendy Thomi
EPA Community
Involvement Coordinator
406-457-5037
. East Helena Smelter Stack Demolition
| August 14, 2009
7:30 a.m.
Montana Department of
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
The Process
Cleveland Wrecking Company and Dykon anticipateXTan early morning blast event on August 14, 2009.
The three (3) stacks to be demolished are as follows:
• Blast Furnace Concrete Stack
• Sinter Plant Concrete Stack
• Acid Plant Brick Stack
425' tall
400' tall
200' tall
(erected in 1981)
(erected in 1930s)
(erected between 1910-1920)
All three (3) stacks will be demolished in one
simultaneous blast event to minimize dust, reduce
inconvenience to the surrounding community, and
increase public safety. The stacks' interiors were
cleaned previously to remove loose dust and debris.
The blasting operation will be conducted when wind
conditions are favorable to reduce dust generation and
migration. Stack demolition will be prohibited if wind
conditions exceed 5 miles per hour. If high wind or
lightening occurs, the blast will be delayed until the
prescribed weather conditions exist.
Asarco, in coordination with the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff and East Helena Police Department,
will set up a perimeter around the demolition area. The public may not enter this "exclusion zone." Several
road closures occurring at 6:30 a.m. on Friday should prevent vehicles from entering the exclusion zone. Law
enforcement and security officials will also be posted on the perimeter to ensure that the public does get
beyond a safe viewing distance.
1) WARNING SIGNAL - a series of long audible signals 3 minutes prior to blast.
2) BLAST SIGNAL - a series of short audible signals 1 minute to blast.
3) VERBAL NOTIFICATION to the public in the viewing area near the water tower will be
communicated by sheriff or patrol car loud speaker.
To minimize the dust generated from the demolition, Cleveland Wrecking Company (CWC) will use
the Godwin Water Distribution System that will distribute suppressing water over the entire drop zone. This
will both minimize the dust and reduce the ability of the dust cloud to move through the air. The system will
be turned on just prior to the felling of the stack to create a curtain of water mist around the impact area. The
system will be used to wet stack debris once the stacks are on the ground.
A post blast safety inspection will be conducted. Once the all clear is given and transmitted via two-
way radio communication to all involved personnel and parties, the roads will be opened and vehicles allowed
to pass again. CWC will begin cleanup of the stack debris following removal of the Godwin System.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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Agencies Involved
Road Closures on Blast Day
• US Government
o Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Notification of Blast Activity
o Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Notification of Alteration/Removal of FAA Lights
Notification/Request for Private Aircraft Restriction around Blast Site
• State of Montana
o Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
Notification of Blast Activity
o Highway Patrol
Notification of Blasting Activity
Road Closures
• Lewis & Clark County
o Sheriff
Notification of Blasting Activity
Road Closures
• City of East Helena
o Police Department
Notification of Blasting Activity
Road Closures
Public Access Control
o Fire Department
Notification of Blasting Activity
Emergency Contingency Planning
• City of Helena
Notification of Blasting Activity
• Montana Rail Link
Notification of Blasting Activity
Railroad Schedule Coordination
Coordination Meetings
For weeks before the anticipated blast event, Cleveland
Wrecking Company (CWC) and Asarco have been
planning and designing the demolition. For ten days
prior to the blast they have been meeting to discuss and
coordinate blast day assignments and logistics.
Representatives from each of the agencies listed on this
page have been notified and attendance requested. The
topics of discussion at these meetings include:
• Schedule
• Blast preparation activities
• Blast day operations
• Road closures and assignments
• Public access and control
Health and Safety—A Top Priority
Date or time of the demolition may change if the wind is not favorable.
A perimeter around the demolition area called the "exclusion zone" will be established.
Road closures occurring at 6:30 a.m. on Friday will prevent vehicles from entering the exclusion zone.
Law enforcement and security officials will be posted on the perimeter.
Dust control measures will be implemented before, during and after the demolition. The measures will
minimize the dust and make it difficult for a dust cloud to move through the air.
DEQ will locate particulate matter air monitoring samplers at four locations surrounding the demolition area.
To ensure public safety, a safety exclusion zone surrounding the blast site will be closed, including roads
encompassed by and/or leading to this zone. Closures are anticipated to occur at the following locations on the day
of the blast event:
1) Hwy 282 at Rankle Pkwy intersection 1,000
2) Hwy 282, 300 feet south of Hwy 12
3) South of Manlove Rd. at western entrance to rodeo grounds
4) South Smelter Rd, 800 feet south of Asarco southern gate (toward Hidden Valley Residences)
5) Smelter Rd, 100 feet west of Smelter Road and Highway 282 intersection
6) Outside of Asarco Plant, near Hwy 518
Cleveland Wrecking Company will request assistance from and coordinate with the Montana Highway Patrol,
Lewis & Clark County Sheriff, and East Helena Police Department for the above referenced road closures. These
road closures will be set-up and maintained by the appropriate law enforcement agency 30-45 minutes prior to
the blast and will be maintained until the all-clear signal has been given by Dykon personnel after the blast.
•••
«*,-fl;
Smelter stack
Road closure
Air monitoring site
Public viewing area
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