Owners outline targeted cleanup plan, timeline for Hansen Steam Plant brownfields project

Butte — Owners of the Hansen Steam Plant and their consultants told the Historic Preservation Commission they plan a targeted cleanup of contaminated soils and limited building abatement so the property can be reused commercially as an event venue. The project is now in a 30-day community comment period that ends Aug. 13, with the project team committing to publish a community outreach report by Aug. 18.

The project matters because it combines hazardous‑materials cleanup, historic‑building preservation and public funding. Melissa Wanamaker, a project lead, said the Christiansens have “been through a phase 2 ESA and and a supplemental phase 2 ESA” and are preapproved for low‑interest financing. Wanamaker said the project “saves a historic structure,” “adds to the needed inventory of wedding venue and event space,” “creates jobs,” and leverages funding including “200,000 from Montana State Historic Preservation that will be able to complete the roof.”

Marcus, the technical consultant who led the sampling and the Analysis of Brownfields…