In a Montana Town, Workin
to Correct Years of
Environmental Wrongs
Libby Asbestos
n northwestern Montana, seven miles northeast of the town of
Libby, lies a vermiculite mine that operated for a century before shutting
down in 1990. Once widely used as building insulation and more recently
as a soil conditioner, vermiculite from the mine was eventually found to be
contaminated with a toxic form of naturally-occurring asbestos fibers.
Hundreds of former mine workers and Libby residents have been diag-
nosed with asbestos related disease. Many have died of illness caused by
asbestos exposure. Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) is partnering with other federal and state agencies to clean up years
of contamination at areas affected by the mine's operation, as well as areas
where contaminated vermiculite was placed—including homes and busi-
nesses in Libby.
Contaminated Vermiculite Distributed
Across Town
During peak production, as much as 80 percent of the world's supply of
vermiculite came from the northwest Montana mine. For years, many
people in Libby received vermiculite free of charge from W.R. Grace (the
company that acquired the mine in 1963) and used it liberally in businesses
and homes as insulation, in gardens as a soil conditioner, and as fill for
school running tracks and football fields as well as other construction
projects.
An Emergency Response is Needed
In November 1999, responding to local concerns regarding asbestos-
contaminated vermiculite and related illness and death, EPA sent an
Emergency Response team to Libby. By the end of that year EPA had
collected nearly 700 samples of the town's air, soil, dust, and building
insulation. The test results, which indicated that many of the town's homes
and businesses contained substantial quantities of asbestiform fibers, were
released to Libby's residents before being made available to the media and
general public. In January 2002, the Governor of Montana requested that
the area affected by the vermiculite mine be added to EPA's National
Priorities List.
continued
Excavation of contaminated soil
in progress.
JUST THE FACTS:
• EPA has successfully cleaned up several
of the town's most affected residences.
All residential and business cleanups in
Libby are expected to be complete in 2005.
• In a coordinated effort involving EPA,
other federal, state and local agencies, all
of Libby's citizens were eligible for x-rays,
lung function tests, and interviews
designed to better understand how peopk
may have been exposed to asbestos.
• To date, Superfund has committed more
than $56 million to clean up Libby and the
surrounding areas.
Staffed by local residents, EPA
opened an Information Center that
responds to as many as 200
inquiries per week. Publicmeet-
ings are held periodically to
discuss sampling results and the
status of cleanup activities.
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A Coordinated Effort to Undo the Damage
EPA subsequently conducted a detailed investigation of the area. Based on the results, EPA cleaned
up several of the town's most affected residential properties, as well as three vermiculite
processing areas and six other non-residential sites. In a coordinated effort involving
EPA, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, and the
Lincoln County Department of Environmental Health, the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry conducted the country's largest asbestos
medical screening. Through this $6 million effort, all of Libby's current and
former residents older than 18 years qualified for x-rays, lung function tests,
and lengthy interviews designed to better understand how people may have
been exposed to asbestos.
The citizens of Libby themselves became involved in the effort to protect and
clean up their town. Staffed by local residents, EPA opened an Information
Center that responds to as many as 200 inquiries per week. Public meetings are
held periodically to discuss sampling results and the status of cleanup activities. EPA
facilitated the establishment of a Community Advisory Group (CAG) that met bi-weekly
through April 2002 and now meets once per month. EPA serves as a resource to the CAG
and attends every meeting. In addition, EPA representatives meet with Libby's business community
and real estate professionals to try and resolve issues regarding the economic effect of the town's
asbestos cleanup effort.
To date, Superfund has committed more than $56 million to clean up Libby and the surrounding areas
affected by the former vermiculite mine. While EPA is seeking reimbursement of assessment and
cleanup costs from W.R. Grace, the Agency recognizes that swift identification and removal of
asbestos contamination is what the town needs most. With an estimated, additional $21 million
expected to be committed to this effort in 2003, EPA is making sure that the outlook for public health,
the environment, and the economy in Libby continues to improve. All residential and business clean-
ups in Libby are expected to be complete in 2005.
CONTACTS:
Jim Christiansen, Remedial Project
Manager, EPA, (303) 312-6748
Wendy Thomi, Community Involvement
Coordinator (406) 457-5037
Visit the EPA Region 2 web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/region8/Superfund/libby
ASK EPA!!
ns and Answer'
Asbestos and F-PA's Investigation
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One of EPA's informational
announcements for Libby residents.
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