Crow Agency, Montana

Bighorn Carpet Mill is being redeveloped by the Crow Nation

Bighorn Carpet Mill is being redeveloped

by the Crow Nation

Site Overview

Site Location

Southeastern Montana, 70 miles East of Billings, Montana

Site Description

A former carpet mill (Bighorn Carpet Mill) located on the Crow Tribal Reservation has been designated a Brownfields site by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In May 2000, the Crow Nation has received a Brownfields Demonstration Pilot Grant to perform an environmental site assessment and plan for cleanup. This work allowed the Crow Nation to develop plans for converting the property into a productive community-based facility that would house the Crow Vocational Technical Center and the Crow Arts and Crafts Heritage Center, furthering education and arts and crafts and minimizing unemployment on the reservation.

Organization Requesting Assistance

Crow Agency Tribal Environmental Program

Beginning Date of Assistance

November 2000

Summary of TOSNAC Assistance

The TOSNAC program provided a workshop in Hardin, Montanna about the possible chemical contaminants associated with an industrial site. TOSNAC provided training material about cultural risk assessment and management. This workshop covered the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment, potential health effects, and cleanup methods. The TOSC program at Montana Tech continued to provide assistance by reviewing and summarizing proposals to perform Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments from numerous environmental companies. In March 2002, the Crow Nation in partnership with Little Big Horn College and Montana Tech was awarded an EPA Job Training Grant. The TOSC program will continue providing support to this site as needed.

An example of cleanup needs at the Bighorn Carpet Mill

NOTE: The EPA TOSC and TOSNAC programs have ended. Communities seeking technical assistance should contact:

- Karen Martin at EPA Headquarters at 703-603-9925, Martin.Karenl@epa.gov; or

- EPA personnel identified at the bottom of the TOSNAC Information Contacts below:

TOSNAC Information Contact

Brenda Brandon

TOSNAC Program Manager

E-mail: brendabrandon@msn.com

Voice: 785.749.8498 OR 785.532.6519

Mailing addresses

Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center
155 Indian Ave., Box 5001
Haskell Indian Nations University
Lawrence, KS 66046

Center for Hazardous Substance Research

104 Ward Hall

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS 66506-2502

Kevin Mellott
Director of TOSC and TAB
Montana Tech University
1300 W. Park Street
Butte MT 59701
Voice: 406.496.4220
Fax: 406.496.4116
E-mail: kmellott@mtech.edu