Glencore hires Calbag for CFAC demolition
The following press release was sent by Columbia Falls Aluminum Company spokesman Haley Beaudry about future cleanup work at Glencore’s closed smelter site.
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Columbia Falls Aluminum Company has entered into a contract with Calbag Resources, LLC, a privately owned salvage and repurposing firm, for the decommissioning and removal of certain structures, machinery, equipment and waste materials at the CFAC aluminum reduction plant.
CFAC selected Calbag after thoroughly vetting several potential contractors. Calbag, a wholly owned subsidiary of Calbag Metals, is an industry leader in decommissioning industrial sites. Calbag has successfully decommissioned and “repurposed” other aluminum smelters, including on in The Dalles, Ore., which is complete and repurposed for commercial, business and retail development.
The plan calls for Calbag to mobilize this spring and begin its on-site work immediately. The current schedule requires Calbag to complete its contracted scope of work within two to three years.
“CFAC is pleased to be moving this process forward,” said Steve Wright, CFAC environmental manager. “We understand the people of Columbia Falls want to see action at the site, and this is our first major step in that direction.”
CFAC previously announced it retained Roux Associates, Inc., a professional, highly respected environmental consulting firm, to prepare a remedial investigation and feasibility study work plan for investigating the CFAC site.
This work plan will describe the types and amount of testing and analyses the site investigation will entail, the schedule of the work, and the range of possible remediation actions.
The development of the RI/FS work plan is ongoing, and CFAC will distribute the work plan to governmental agencies and the public. Specialists will conduct the site investigation according to the RI/FS work plan.
Through these separate efforts, CFAC will remove waste and salvageable materials from the site and begin to characterize historic contamination to be able to address it appropriately.
“CFAC is both fortunate and pleased to have been able to involve these two recognized leaders in their respective fields,” Wright said.
CFAC is committed to complying with all applicable laws, rules and regulations during the closure and decommissioning process, especially those relating to health, safety and the environment. Calbag and Roux are committed to the same standards and practices.
We look forward to working through this next chapter in as timely a manner as possible always with an eye to making the CFAC site available for redevelopment with the potential for commensurate good jobs to Columbia Falls.