The city of East Helena dates back to 1888, when a large lead smelter was built on the banks of Prickly Pear Creek in the Helena Valley. East Helena grew up around that enterprise. For over a century, the smelter processed 70,000 tons of lead bullion a year and provided a livelihood for thousands of families. It also produced tons of contaminants, and in 1984, the EPA declared the smelter a Superfund Cleanup Site.

METG’s environmental cleanup actions in East Helena focus on soil and groundwater contamination caused by more than a century of smelting at the former ASARCO smelter site.

The pages to the right provide more information on site operations, regulatory history, site conditions, current work, environmental conditions, and redevelopment.