Colstrip Power Plant Colstrip Power Plant is a coal-fired power station located in the small town of Colstrip in southeastern Montana. The four-unit facility is one of the largest coal plants in the western United States, drawing coal from the adjacent Rosebud Mine.
Last verified: 2026-03-09Colstrip Units 1 and 2 began operation in 1975 and 1976, while the larger Units 3 and 4 came online in 1984 and 1986. The plant was built by Montana Power Company and its partners during the era when asbestos was standard in power plant construction. All four units were constructed with asbestos-containing insulation and materials. Units 1 and 2 were retired in 2020, while Units 3 and 4 continue to operate under a consortium of Northwest utilities.
Workers at Colstrip Power Plant were exposed to asbestos in boiler insulation, pipe lagging, turbine wrapping, gaskets, and refractory materials used throughout all four generating units. Montana's harsh winters made insulation critical to plant operations, and maintenance workers frequently repaired and replaced insulation materials. The remote location of the plant meant that the same workforce was repeatedly exposed over long careers, and contract workers brought in for outages faced concentrated short-term exposure.
The following job categories at Colstrip Power Plant had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:
Former Colstrip Power Plant workers have developed mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer attributed to their occupational asbestos exposure. The plant's remote location in rural Montana has made it challenging for some former workers to access specialized medical care for asbestos-related diseases. Workers employed during the 1970s and 1980s construction and early operational periods face the highest risk.
Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.
Workers exposed to asbestos at Colstrip Power Plant may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.
3 asbestos trust funds have been identified as potentially related to exposure at this site. Many mesothelioma patients qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.
Find Out If You QualifyWorkers who were employed at Colstrip Power Plant between 1970s–1980s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.
Workers exposed to asbestos at Colstrip Power Plant may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:
Yes. All four units at Colstrip were built between 1975 and 1986 using asbestos-containing materials for boiler insulation, pipe insulation, turbine wrapping, gaskets, and refractory materials.
Boiler operators, pipe fitters, insulators, and maintenance workers faced the greatest exposure, particularly during outage maintenance when deteriorated asbestos insulation was removed and replaced inside boiler enclosures.
Yes. Former workers diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos diseases may be eligible for compensation through asbestos trust funds and lawsuits against the manufacturers of asbestos products used at Colstrip.
If you or a loved one worked at Colstrip Power Plant and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, our attorneys can help you explore your legal options. There is no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.
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