The Residential Metals Abatement Program (RMAP)

Before-and-after photos showing a yard contaminated with mine waste reclaimed through Butte-Silver Bow's Residential Metals Abatement Program (RMAP). For more information, call the Butte-Silver Bow County Health Department at 406-497-5042.

There is a free and easy way to test and clean up your home or apartment—Butte’s Residential Metals Abatement Program (RMAP). The Butte/Silver Bow Health Department’s Residential Metals Program will sample and analyze dust and soil at your home and clean it up, if needed, at no cost to you. The program cleans up contaminated attic dust, indoor dust, and yards.

If you live in a home or apartment built before 2006 in Uptown/Central Butte, your home, apartment or yard may contain contaminated and potentially toxic dust, soil, or paint. Certain levels of metals can threaten your health or the health of your children. Arsenic, lead and mercury can cause cancer, nervous system disorders, learning disabilities, heart problems and other health problems. Children are particularly at risk from exposure to arsenic, lead and mercury.

Here’s all you need to do:

  1. Make an appointment to have your home sampled. (Just a quick phone call: 406-497-5040)
  2. Fill out a sample request form. (The property owner needs to do this.)

Here’s what the Health Department will do:

  1. BSB Health Department will collect attic dust, indoor dust and soil samples.
  2. They will have a certified lab analyze the samples to see if contamination is present.
  3. They will mail the results to you or the property owner. (All results are confidential.)
  4. They will let you know what the results mean.

What happens next?

If you don’t have a level of contamination that requires cleanup, great-nothing need be done. If the Health Department finds lead, mercury or arsenic contamination and a level that requires cleanup in order to protect your health, the property owner fills out an access agreement and BSB will clean it up.

The county program removes both mining-related and non-mining-related sources of lead (such as lead-based paint and piping) and other contaminants. The county has implemented the program since 1995, and there has been a significant drop in blood lead levels in the community.While previously focused on lead, in recent years the program has expanded to address other contaminants of concern, particularly mercury and arsenic.

Refer to the EPA Residential Metals Abatement Plan (March 2010) for more information on this program, or call Eric Hassler at the Butte-Silver Bow County Health Department at 406-497-5042. Currently, participation is voluntary, so contact BSB if you feel that your property is contaminated and eligible for cleanup assistance. You can also contact CTEC for assistance.

Has my house been cleaned through the RMAP Program?
Please contact 497-5040 to ask if your house has been sampled or cleaned-up under the RMAP program.