Superfund: Tailing History

-A group of environmental photography students from Point Park University journeyed to Missoula, Montana last May to document an ongoing, massive clean-up of the Upper Clark Fork River.

The result of that effort is a 17-minute documentary entitled Superfund: Tailing History. Tailing refers to residue or waste materials left over after separating valuable ore, such as copper, from rock.

Students interviewed environmental activists, academicians, biologists, Native American tribal leaders and concerned citizens about how this once pristine river was so severely polluted that it became the largest Superfund site in the U.S. After a massive settlement paid by the polluting companies to the State of Montana for clean-up, stakeholders are now challenged by how best to use the funds to ensure the long term health and survival of the watershed.

The trip was funded by the Heinz Endowments which specifically earmarks funds for student travel and is part of the organization’s ongoing support of the Environmental Journalism program at Point Park University.