ARCO ordered to pay $16.3M in East Helena smelter cleanup

Afederal court judge has ruled Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO) must pay Asarco $16.3 million for ongoing cleanup at the East Helena smelter facility that caused arsenic contamination to groundwater.

U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen ruled Wednesday that with $61,350,359 in costs so far, Asarco may recover $15,337,589.80 from Atlantic Richfield for the remediation plus $1 million for ARCO's failure to cooperate with government officials. He also said a 75% Asarco / 25% ARCO split on future costs was appropriate.

Attempts to reach ARCO on Friday were unsuccessful.

This case began nine years ago in 2012. Asarco, an Arizona-based smelting company, filed a contribution action to hold Atlantic Richfield liable for its equitable share of the costs that had been incurred for response action at the site.

It was done under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund.

Read more: https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/arco-ordered-to-pay-16-3m-in-east-helena-smelter-cleanup/article_dbd3c86e-7583-5933-ad2b-fe2a5bdb8344.html