Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Atlantic Richfield scraps second Berkeley Pit water plant

in Business
Atlantic Richfield scraps second Berkeley Pit water plant
Outlaw Partnersby Outlaw Partners
February 4, 2020

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUTTE – Atlantic Richfield has scrapped a proposal to build a second water treatment plant to lower the level of acidic, metal-laden water that has collected in a former copper mining pit in Butte.

There were concerns that reducing the water levels in Berkeley Pit could destabilize portions of the walls of the pit, Cameron Nazminia, director of state and local affairs for Atlantic Richfield, told “The Montana Standard.”

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad
ADVERTISEMENT

Berkeley Pit began filling with water after Atlantic Richfield turned off underground pumps in 1982. Atlantic Richfield/BP and Montana Resources are responsible to maintain the water level in the pit below the level at which it would enter Butte’s groundwater.

Last year, Montana Resources began a pilot project to pump and treat enough water from Berkeley Pit to stop the water levels from rising.

Atlantic Richfield had proposed lowering the pit’s water levels by between 50 feet and 150 feet. The water is about 1,000 feet deep.

In addition to pit wall stability, Mark Thompson of Montana Resources said reducing the water level would expose sulfide-ore minerals to oxygen, generating acid that would increase the acidity of the water in the pit. Leaving the minerals covered with water takes the oxygen out of the equation, Thompson said.

ADVERTISEMENT
Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes
outlaw realty montana outlaw realty montana
ADVERTISEMENT
Outlaw Realty Big Sky Bozeman
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Jul 11
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 11
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at the Waypoint

Jul 12
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Cretaceous Crossroads Education Celebration

Jul 12
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 13
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

Uncle Dan’s Cookies moves forward with new owner, same sweet legacy
Business

Uncle Dan’s Cookies moves forward with new owner, same sweet legacy

June 30, 2025
Making it in Big Sky: Clean Bozeman
Business

Making it in Big Sky: Clean Bozeman

June 19, 2025
Black Diamond Awards recognize Big Sky’s brightest
Business

Black Diamond Awards recognize Big Sky’s brightest

June 17, 2025
Resort tax starts appropriations
Business

Enjoying the Ride: Financial independence – what it really means, and how to get there 

June 16, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube