Industrial Section

Industrial Section

Columbia Gorge Aluminum

The Department of Ecology invites you to comment on the proposed modification to Columbia Gorge Aluminum's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. We will accept comment only on the proposed changes February 1 – March 5, 2012. For more information, please read: Proposed changes to the permit include modifying Condition S1.B.1, reducing the frequency of monitoring the final effluent for aluminum, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and fluoride from weekly to once a month. The permit was written for a fully operational smelter. The smelter has been shutdown and is going through demolition. Columbia Gorge Aluminum has requested reduction in frequency of monitoring since the facility is no longer in active operation.

Location & History

The aluminum smelter is permanently closed. Production stopped in 2003. The facility has been dismantled. There is no process wastewater discharged from the former smelter. Current discharge consists of stormwater and a small amount of sanitary wastewater. Demolition contractors use best management practices to minimize pollutants in the stormwater. Sanitary wastewater is treated using a small activated sludge system prior to combining with stormwater. The combined stormwater and treated sanitary wastewater are then discharged to the Columbia River through Outfall 001.

Facility Site Number: 95415874

Location and Mailing address:


    Goldendale Aluminum Company
    85 John Day Dam Road
    Goldendale, WA 98620-9302
Industrial Section Permits.

Dept of Ecology contact Facility 24 hour Contact Number:
    (509) 773-5811