Annual Project Update
Libby Asbestos Superfund Site
EPA Information Center; 108 E. 9th Street; Libby, MT 59923; (406)293-6194
DEQ Troy Information Center; 303 N. Third Street; Troy, MT 59935; (406)295-9238
Environmental Resource Specialist - (406)291-5335
May 2011
Introduction
The Libby Asbestos site in northwest Montana
includes the towns of Libby and Troy as well
as an inactive vermiculite mine seven miles
northeast of Libby. In 2010, EPA completed
its 10th year addressing Libby Asbestos
Amphibole (LA) contaminated properties in
Libby and Troy, Montana. This fact sheet
provides an update of cleanup activities that
took place in 2010, where we're going in 2011
and other EPA site specific information that
may be of interest to the community.
Risk Assessment Process Presentation
In February and March of this year, EPA held
numerous public presentations on EPA's risk
assessment process. If you know of a group,
organization or business that would be
interested in hearing the Risk Assessment
Presentation, please contact Libby Faulk at
1-800-227-9441, ext. 3126083.
EPA Wants To Hear From You
EPA has recently released draft cancer and
non-cancer toxicity values for Libby
Amphibole asbestos (LA). While the toxicity
values move through the Integrated Risk
Information System process, EPA would like to
discuss what the draft values mean to the
residents of Libby and where we go from here.
Please let us know how we can best share
this information with you and ways in which
we can have an open dialogue to discuss how
we can move forward together. To share
your ideas, please do one of the following:
email Libby Faulk at faulk.libby@epa.gov, call
Libby at 1-800-227-8917, ext. 6083, or write to
Libby Faulk, CIC
US EPA, Region 8
1595 Wynkoop Street (8OC-PAI)
Denver, Colorado 80202
Have You Noticed Any Change?
EPA is updating the Libby Superfund website.
We have developed an entire webpage of the
most frequently asked questions EPA receives
about the Libby Superfund site. We've also
created a webpage for site documents that
make it easier to find the documents you're
looking for. Visit the website at
www.epa.gov/libby.
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Operable Units (OUs) 1, 2, 5, & 6 -
Processing Areas
In May 2010, EPA selected remedies for OUs
1 and 2 in Records of Decision (RODs). At
OU1, EPA is working closely with the City of
Libby to design the remedy to complement the
City's planned use of the property as a park.
Remediation is expected to take 8 to 10 weeks
and could begin as early as this summer. At
OU2, EPA completed the remedial action in
the fall of 2010 and is now working to prepare
the operation and maintenance and institutional
control plans. Since waste was left in place,
effectiveness of the remedy will be evaluated
at least every five years.
EPA is continuing Remedial Investigation at
OUS. We are currently working on the
Feasibility Study, planned for summer of 2011.
Sampling data along the rail lines, OU6, are
being evaluated.
OU3 - Investigations continue at the Mine
OUS, the former vermiculite mine,
encompasses the mine property and areas
impacted by releases from the mine including
creeks, ponds, the surrounding forest, and
Rainy Creek Road. W.R. Grace is the lead for
the investigation phase of the project at OUS
with EPA oversight. The 2010 field program
included Activity Based Sampling to
characterize exposure to hikers, campers, ATV
riders, firefighters digging fire lines, and
wood harvesters. EPA expects to oversee the
collection of additional surface water
samples and amphibian and fish toxicity
testing in 2011.
OU4 - Libby home and businesses
Over 1,460 residential and commercial
properties have now been cleaned up in
Libby. Construction is tentatively scheduled
to begin in early May this year. EPA
tentatively plans on completing over 150
properties in Libby.
EPA continues to refine its cleanup approach
as we get new information. For example,
last year EPA began to address alleys that
adjoin properties scheduled for removal
activities. This year we will be transitioning
to neighborhood cleanups as well. Activity
Based Sampling in OU4 for indoor air,
outdoor residential, occupational and
recreational will also continue this year.
OU7 - Troy home and businesses
The Montana Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ), lead agency for OU7, has
inspected 1,282 parcels in the Troy area. Of
those inspected, 114 parcels meet the current
removal criteria and 84 received removal
actions in 2010. Ambient air sampling
continued throughout the OU and a Remedial
Investigation Report was published for OU7.
For more details on the project in Troy,
please contact the MDEQ Troy Information
Center at (406) 295-9238.
OUS - State Highways
EPA has designated the state highways that
fall within the boundary of the Superfund
Site as Operable Unit 8. OUS includes
highways 37 and 2 as well as Pipe Creek
Road, Farm to Market Road, and Kootenai
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River Road. EPA has developed sampling
plans and investigations tailored to the unique
characteristics of the roadways. Soil samples
were collected and Activity Based Sampling
was conducted in 2010. Those data are being
used to prepare the Remedial Investigation
report, planned for the spring of 2011. In
addition, EPA will initiate air monitoring
adjacent to the Montana Department of
Transportation's road repair work along
Highway 37 this construction season.
Did you know?
EPA is conducting a study of LA background
levels in the Libby valley. Quantifying soil
background levels in the Libby area will help
inform risk management decisions for the site.
Best Management Practices Fact Sheets
It is possible that you might unexpectedly find
vermiculite while digging in your yard, when
performing work on your home or as part of
your job activities. If you do, EPA strongly
cautions you not to disturb it further and cause
LA to become airborne.
Call the Environmental Resource Specialist
(ERS) at no cost to you if you see ANY
vermiculite on your property or while working,
even if you are unsure. If the ERS determines
that there is vermiculite on your property that
needs to be addressed, it will be removed at no
cost to you.
ERS for the Libby area — 406-291-5335
ERS for the Troy area — 406-291-6201
EPA has recently updated best management
practices fact sheets covering various activities
one may perform in the Libby and Troy area.
The information in these fact sheets provides
precautionary steps one should take to reduce
exposures to LA. These fact sheets are
available at the Libby and Troy Information
Centers or can be found on EPA's Libby
Superfund website at www.epa.gov/libby.
The CAG, the LATAG and the NEW EPA Q&A Session
The Libby Community Advisory Group (CAG) and the Libby Technical Assistance Group
(LATAG) continue to work with EPA on community concerns and interest about the Libby
Superfund site. To learn more about EPA's activities in Libby, please attend both or one of
the following:
• Monthly CAG meetings are held the second Thursday of each month from 6:00 to
8:00 at the Flathead Community College
• Monthly LATAG meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month from 7:00
to 9:00 at the Flathead Community College
NEW EPA Q&A Session
EPA has recently started holding a question and answer public availability session. This ses-
sion is open to the public and is held on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30
at the Flathead Community College.
You can read meeting minutes from the CAG meeting on EPA's Libby Superfund website at
www.epa.gov/libby or visit the LATAG website at www.latag.org.
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Inside: 2011
Annual Project Update
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