Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Food and Consumer Safety Bureau records

Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Food and Consumer Safety Bureau records, 1979-1980

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Montana. Department of Health and Environmental Sciences.
Title: Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Food and Consumer Safety Bureau records
Dates: 1979-1980 (inclusive)
19791980
Quantity: 1 linear foot of shelf space
Collection Number: RS 447
Summary: This collection is comprised of records of the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Food and Consumer Safety Bureau and primarily consists of records related to the Pierce Packing Company’s Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) spill in Billings, M.T. in 1979.
Repository: Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions: Collection open for research.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Legislature established the Department of Public Welfare in 1937, consolidating state welfare activities. The Department was responsible for the administration of all forms of public assistance, including general relief programs and supervision of institutions caring for the dependent, delinquent, or mentally or physically handicapped. In 1971 the Department of Public Welfare was abolished and its functions assumed by the newly created Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS). The SRS assumed the functions of various state agencies, including functions pertaining to vocational rehabilitation and education; the Commission on Aging; and the Council on Human Resources. The SRS administered all forms of public assistance, child protection, and child welfare; gave consultant service to private institutions providing care for the needy, indigent, handicapped, or dependent; developed provisions for services to the blind; supervised county boards of public welfare; and administered all funds allotted for public welfare activities. State government reorganization in 1995 combined the SRS with portions of the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences to form the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

In 1979 a transformer, belonging to the Pierce Packing Company in Billings, M.T. filled with cooling fluids containing Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB), ruptured. This resulted in an estimated 200 gallons of toxic chemicals being released that eventually contaminated approximately 1.9 million pounds of the meat meal used for animal feed.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection is composed of subject files related to the Pierce Packing Company’s Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) spill in Billings, M.T. in 1979. Included are general information statements and lab analysis reports from the Montana Health Department, Montana Department of Agriculture/Livestock, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Also included is a listing of contaminated products that were destroyed and newspaper clippings.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

43:6-1

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Subject FilesReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Disposal and Destruction of Contaminated Products	1979-1980
1/2	Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – Lab Analysis	1979
1/3	Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – Lab Analysis	1979-1980
¼	Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - TeletypeWriter eXchange (TWX)	1979-1980
1/5	Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – General Information	1979
1/6	Montana Department Agriculture/Livestock – Lab Analysis	1979-1980
1/7	Montana Department Agriculture/Livestock, General Correspondence	1979
1/8-1/9	Montana Department of Health Lab Analysis	1979
1/10-1/11	Montana Health Department General Information and Correspondence, PCB	1979-1980
1/12	Montana’s Position Paper on PCB Incident	1979
1/13	Press – Newspaper Clippings	1979-1980
1/14	Press – Scanned Newspaper Clippings	1979-1980
1/15	Producers, Phone Calls, and Questionnaires, PCB	1979
1/16	United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) – General Information	1979
1/17	United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Lab Analysis	1979
1/18	United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Lab Analysis	1979
1/19	United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Lab Analysis	1979

Archives West Finding Aid

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