Transformation of Former Smelter in East Helena, Montana, Wins Prestigious Phoenix Award for Brownfields Redevelopment

CHICAGO, IL (August 20, 2025) – The transformation of a former lead smelter and surrounding land in East Helena, Montana, has earned the prestigious Phoenix Award for excellence in brownfields redevelopment. The cleanup and revitalization of the former ASARCO smelter site received the 2025 Phoenix Award for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 on August 7 at the National Brownfields Conference hosted by EPA and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) in Chicago.

A century of lead smelting by ASARCO contaminated soil and groundwater and left behind a 16-million-ton slag pile. Since the ASARCO bankruptcy settlement created the Montana Environmental Custodial Trust in 2009, Montana Environmental Trust Group (METG), as trustee, has remediated the former smelter and facilitated reuse of most of the ±2,000 acres of contaminated land in collaboration with its project partners and East Helena stakeholders, with the support, guidance, and approval of EPA. See the project fact sheet.

Former ASARCO lands have been successfully redeveloped into two public schools, a 319-home subdivision, a 322-acre park and trails, a county search-and-rescue facility, a 26,000-square-foot store, a manufacturing plant expansion, and a new rodeo arena. Another 5,500 homes, more parks, and additional commercial, office, light industrial, and retail uses are planned. See East Helena redevelopment. 

Rebirth of the former smelter site and former ASARCO lands in East Helena is the result of the shared vision, commitment, professionalism, and leadership of the core team of project partners, including METG, EPA Region 8, the City of East Helena, East Helena Public Schools, Prickly Pear Land Trust, Helena Area Habitat for Humanity, and Oakland Companies. The trust cultivated over 15 years of community engagement has also been key to redevelopment success. 

“The transformation of the former ASARCO smelter site in East Helena is a testament to what’s possible when local leadership, community vision, and federal partnership come together,” said EPA Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our partners at METG, the City of East Helena, and many other organizations, most of the 2,000 acres of once-contaminated land has been cleaned up and put to good use, bringing jobs, strengthening the local economy and creating new opportunities for families and businesses. This Phoenix Award is a well-deserved recognition of the community’s long-term vision and commitment to economic renewal.” 

“METG is profoundly grateful to its project partners and honored to be recognized for our contribution to revitalizing a 2,000-acre site and the renewal of East Helena,” said Cynthia Brooks, managing principal of Montana Environmental Trust Group (METG), the trustee that has cleaned up the smelter and facilitated site redevelopment. “METG inherited contamination from 100 years of lead smelting. Under EPA leadership, METG has substantially remediated the former smelter, with dramatic improvements in groundwater quality and more than one half the cleanup funds still available for additional work. The cleanup results and close collaboration with our project partners have helped transform hundreds of former ASARCO acres into community assets, dubbed ‘The Miracle of East Helena’ by one member of our team. East Helena exemplifies the strength and value of public-private partnerships.” 

“The environmental cleanup revitalized the former smelter lands. Now we’re seeing tremendous growth and a renewed sense of community,” said East Helena Mayor Kelly Harris, whose father and uncles worked at the ASARCO smelter that operated for over a century and fostered generations of blue-collar workers and their families. “The teamwork, the effort, and the care that have gone into every step of this transformation has been amazing.” 

“East Helena is an incredible community, and everyone – from the mayor and council members to the superintendent of schools and business leaders – works hard together selflessly to make their corner of the world better for future generations,” said Mary Hollow, executive director of Prickly Pear Land Trust. “The community built a roadmap for what they wanted with good jobs, homes, trails, parks, and connectivity. Prickly Pear Land Trust helped turn that vision into reality by opening two parks in East Helena. The community now enjoys more than 300 acres of open space plus trails, wildlife, and education programs at The Grove and Prickly Pear Park.” 

“I am so excited about the future of East Helena,” said Dan Rispens, East Helena Schools Superintendent. “This partnership has been a benefit to our students and district residents. Our top-notch facilities are serving the community well and will continue to do so for years to come. The reclaimed ASARCO properties helped us with construction of two new schools for a very low cost. And this ongoing partnership continues to amaze me in the way it is enhancing quality of life for our students and all East Helena residents.” 

“This recognition affirms the incredible transformation taking place in East Helena,” said Jacob Kuntz, executive director of Helena Area Habitat for Humanity. “Our Rose Hills neighborhood represents not only the environmental renewal of a once-contaminated site, but also a bold vision for affordable, inclusive homeownership in Montana. We’re proud to be part of a community-driven effort, with these strong partners, that is creating a vibrant place where families can thrive.” 

“The Oakland Companies is proud to be part of this exciting revitalization of nearly 2,000 acres,” said Landy Leep, vice president of Oakland & Companies, Inc. “Our role in this revitalization began in 2018, when we purchased 100 acres from METG – in the heart of East Helena – for the Highland Meadows subdivision. The success of Highland Meadows was made possible by teamwork with the City of East Helena, EPA, and METG. In less than 10 years, Oakland helped transform a brownfield property into a thriving neighborhood with hundreds calling Highland Meadows home. In 2022, the Oakland further strengthened its commitment to East Helena by purchasing over 750 acres of brownfield land from METG for the mixed-use, Prickly Pear Estates project. Working with Cynthia Brooks of METG, we are remediating the entire 750-acre parcel, with a large percentage to be remediated to residential standards. Besides single-family homes, Prickly Pear Estates will contain light industrial and commercial uses and multi-family residential areas.” 

The former ASARCO smelter site was chosen as the Phoenix Award winner for EPA Region 8, which includes the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and 28 Tribal Nations. The Phoenix Award is presented to projects from each of the 10 EPA regions, as well as projects that have special community impact. 

“Your team and nomination exemplify excellence in brownfield redevelopment,” Emily Sparks, Program Director, Thriving Communities, International City/County Management Association, wrote in July 2025 to METG’s Brooks. “The projects nominated this year are especially impressive, and a testament to the impact of transforming a site into a significant community asset.” 

About Cleanup of former ASARCO smelter site

Corrective measures implemented by METG at the 776-acre RCRA site included moving 1.25 miles of Prickly Pear Creek away from the slag pile to reduce groundwater contamination, and remediating the floodplain, wetlands, and habitat the revitalized creek now meanders through. More than 60 smelter structures were demolished, tons of waste stored in a corrective action management unit or under a 62-acre evapotranspiration cover system, and contaminant source areas removed. METG is pursuing removal and recycling of unfumed slag before implementing the final corrective measure—grading and capping the slag pile—that will address the remaining source of selenium loading to groundwater. Read more at the project fact sheet. 

About EPA Region 8

EPA Region 8 serves six states and 28 Tribal Nations in the western United States. EPA is the lead agency overseeing cleanup efforts at the former smelter site and in the nearby community of East Helena. EPA works closely with METG, nonprofits, and partners at the state and local levels as cleanup and redevelopment efforts progress in East Helena. The site team is based out of Helena, MT. CONTACT: Mackenzie Meter, Community Involvement Coordinator, Meter.Mackenzie@epa.gov, 406-970-5806 

About Montana Environmental Trust Group (METG)

As the court-appointed trustee of the Montana Environmental Custodial Trust, METG is responsible for remediating and facilitating beneficial, community-supported reuse of former ASARCO lands in East Helena, under EPA oversight and for the benefit of the United States and the State of Montana. The project has received national and international engineering awards and the EPA Excellence in Site Reuse Award. METG’s parent company is Greenfield Environmental Trust Group, Inc. (Greenfield). CONTACT: Cynthia Brooks, METG Managing Principal and Greenfield President, cb@g-etg.com, 617-448-9762 

About City of East Helena

East Helena, Montana, is a small, friendly town with a strong sense of community and a rich mining history. Located five miles east of Helena, the State capital, East Helena grew around the former ASARCO lead smelter that operated for over a century and fostered generations of blue-collar workers and their families. While the smelter is gone, East Helena retains its unique character and offers a mix of recreational opportunities and community events and traditions that date back decades. With a population of 2,264, East Helena is now one of Montana’s fastest-growing cities. CONTACT: Kelly Harris, Mayor, kharris@easthelenamt.us, 406-438-1031 

About East Helena Public Schools

East Helena Public Schools (EHPS) operates three elementary, one middle, and one high school with a student population of more than 1,950 annually. The district strives to maintain strong connections between teachers and parents, maintaining a “small town feel” in one of the largest Class A districts in the state. As one of Montana’s newest high schools, East Helena High School is the pride of the community and continues to grow and expand offerings for academics as well as athletics and activities. CONTACT: Dan Rispens, Superintendent, drispens@ehps.k12.mt.us, 406-227-7700 

About Prickly Pear Land Trust

Prickly Pear Land Trust connects land and people in west-central Montana. The land trust partnered with the East Helena community to envision and develop parks and trails on the former ASARCO lands. PPLT and the East Helena school district have created an outdoor education program that connects students with the landscapes that shape their community. CONTACT: Mary Hollow, Executive Director, mary@pricklypearlt.org, 406-240-4907 

About Helena Area Habitat for Humanity

Helena Area Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, community, and hope. Since its founding in 1992, the organization has built 83 homes and completed 38 repairs, helping to create stable and affordable housing in the region. Its work focuses on three key areas: homeownership, home repair, and operation of the Helena ReStore. Helena Area Habitat for Humanity is also developing the Rose Hills neighborhood, an innovative mixed-income neighborhood in East Helena. Designed to redefine what a Montana neighborhood can be, Rose Hills is more than a housing development. With 46 acres of parks, trails, and green space, a vibrant town center, and sustainable, community-driven design, it is a place to belong. CONTACT: Jacob Kuntz, Executive Director, jacobk@helenahabitat.org, 406-531-6578 

About Oakland Companies

For 50 years, The Oakland Companies has provided housing across the western United States. Guided by founder Gary Oakland, the organization’s goal is to create communities of quality, uniqueness and value. Utilizing the latest design concepts, The Oakland Companies’ master planned communities are among the region’s finest. The Oakland Companies plan, create, build, and sell residential communities consisting of building sites for site-built homes that also feature recreational amenities, streets, and utility infrastructures. CONTACT: Landy Leep, Vice President, LLeep@oaklandcompanies.com, 406-591-2447 

About Phoenix Awards

Created in 1997 to honor individuals and groups working to solve the environmental challenge of transforming blighted and contaminated areas into productive new uses, the Phoenix Awards “reflect the progression of brownfield redevelopment over the past 20+ years by recognizing extraordinary practitioners and projects. Today, brownfields redevelopment is an established practice area with expertise and organizations from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors across the country. The awards recognize exemplary practitioners and projects that are creating jobs, economic opportunity, and stronger communities,” according to https://gobrownfields.org/2025-phoenix-awards/.