Columbia Falls Aluminum Company demolition in second phase

　　An old hat, signs and a bulletin board from a different time still hang in the building. They’re memories of when the Columbia Falls Aluminum plant employed hundreds in the Flathead Valley.

　　"In 2013 to 2014, it became evident the aluminum industry was dying in North America, so final closure of the site occurred in 2015," said Glencore project manager John Stroiazzo.

　　An old picture from 1999 still sits at the site, but now most of the subject is gone.

　　"In 2015 we started a program of demolishing the buildings and doing environmental cleanup work associated with the process of making aluminum that was conducted here on this property,” said Stroiazzo.

　　They completed phase one, where they found some soil and groundwater contamination that needs remediation. Now they are in phase two, where more tests will be taken and workers will demolish old pot rooms.

　　The program is expected to last until 2021 when a final report of all the findings will be complete. Currently some sites are open for commercial use.

　　"So we have three large warehouse buildings that we are maintaining and they are in very good condition,” Stroiazzo told NBC Montana. “We also have a large fabrication shop, an administration building, a parking lot."

　　Stroiazzo said the site is a large part of the community and economy. There is still potential for life at the old site.

　　"This site might also bring future employment at some time, so there are also people who are interested in that aspect. There is a general interest by many in the community and not only the general public, but also the business community,” Stroiazzo said.