Libby Environmental Health Update

January 12, 2001

It has been more than 15 months since the EPA and DEQ began working with the Libby community to remediate the potential exposures of asbestos in Libby. In this time, a great deal has been accomplished; however, a substantial remedial effort lies ahead.

Initially, remedial efforts addressed asbestos contamination at the former mine site and at two former vermiculite processing plants in Libby, the Export Plant and Screening Plant.  As the investigation continued, EPA and DEQ determined there might be an additional potential exposure to people in their homes and businesses.  To determine this potential risk, numerous homes, schools, and business buildings were sampled during the summer.  During the summer and fall, removal efforts occurred at both former processing areas, sampling continued at the former mine site, and investigation of the potential residential exposure threat continued.  Currently, removal efforts and sampling at the mine site have stopped due to winter weather; however, EPA is initiating Phase II Investigation of its residential exposure scenario in February and a draft medical monitoring and health care plan is almost complete.

Export Plant

W.R. Grace, under a Unilateral Administrative Order, conducted the removal actions at the former Export Plant.  W.R. Grace has finished abating all the former processing buildings on the property and has excavated all asbestos-impacted soil, debris and vermiculite.  The buildings passed EPA clearance testing and standards. All impacted material has been transported and disposed of at the former mine site.  Restoration efforts will finish by late spring 2001, at which point EPA and DEQ will conduct a final clearance walk through.

Key Points:

  • A date has not been determined for the Millworks West lumber business, which was temporarily relocated this past fall, to return to the Export Plant property.  Millworks West is currently using one building (Planner Shop) on the property.
  • W.R. Grace removed more than 1,700 cubic yards of debris from the Export Plant.
  • W.R. Grace removed more than 19,000 cubic yards of asbestos (vermiculite) impacted soil.
  • W.R. Grace removed more than 35 cubic yards of petroleum-impacted soil.  The current petroleum landfarm at the mine will be expanded to accept this material.

Screening Plant

EPA has taken the lead (through its contractors) to remediate the former Screening Plant property (approximately 21-acres).  Due to disposal constraints, EPA has not been able to transport and dispose of any impacted soil or debris existing on the site.  Consequently, EPA was forced to stockpile this material in and around one of the former large buildings existing on the property.  The federal agency has finished the excavation and temporary stockpiling of debris and soils.  EPA wants to dispose of impacted soil and debris at the former mine site and is taking W.R. Grace to court to gain access. Restoration efforts are scheduled to begin in early spring 2001 and finish by mid-summer.

Key Points:

  • More than 80,000 cubic yards of soil has been stockpiled in the longshed.
  • An extremely large (undetermined) amount of impacted debris has been stockpiled.
  • The archeological investigation uncovered numerous artifacts, such as arrowheads, pots, jewelry, cooking and hunting utensils, which date to 7,000-10,000 years old.
  • The former owners of the property are working with EPA to settle reimbursement matters concerning the loss of property including the house, sheds and personal items that could not be cleaned.

Mine Site Property Issue

Currently, hauling impacted material, sampling, and treating the road surface have stopped due to winter conditions.  W.R. Grace has disposed of all the debris and impacted soil from the former Export Plant at the mine site.

Key Points:

  • Investigative efforts of the “Glory Hole” no contamination.
  • Investigative efforts of groundwater revealed levels of arsenic and lead exceeding Montana’s groundwater standards.
  • In the spring, EPA will pave Rainy Creek Road from Highway 37 to W.R Grace’s property boundary (county owned section) to eliminate potential exposures to asbestos from the mine tailings in the road.
  • Air sampling efforts in and around the mine site will start in the spring.
  • In the spring, W.R. Grace will expand the existing landfarm to house the petroleum-impacted soil removed from the former Export Plant.

Medical Testing/Screening

To date more than 6,200 residents have been scheduled for medical testing and more than 5,200 people have been screened.  In addition, 69 people from Elko, NV, are registered for the screening. During the first or second week of January, the local hospital will publish a draft medical monitoring program plan for review and comment.  The purpose of the program is to provide long-term care for asbestos-related disease victims who lived, worked, attended school or played in the Libby community.  Earlier in the year, W.R. Grace published its version of a medical monitoring program plan for the community.  Very few community members signed up for the program.  Consequently, the hospital developed a separate plan to provide medical coverage to those victims who do not choose the W.R. Grace plan.

Lincoln County

It appears Lincoln County will retain the services of several attorneys for setting up a Libby Trust that can help people with long-term medical cost and other county concerns.

The county has developed a voluntary vermiculite insulation registry program for Lincoln County.  To date, more than 121 residents have reported vermiculite present in their home.  The county is trying to identify all households, schools, business, etc., which have vermiculite insulation.  The registry will be useful when the county applies for federal funding programs.

EPA Phase II Investigation

EPA has issued a Phase II Investigation draft sampling plan and a draft statement of work by DR. Berman, an expert in asbestos risk assessment.  The investigation will begin early this year and focus on determining the risk of asbestos exposure in residential homes.  The investigation proposes to determine risk by sampling dust, air and attic insulation from homes during regular home activities (vacuuming, cleaning, playing, etc.).

ATSDR Report

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) report “Mortality form Asbestosis in Libby Montana" was published December 12, 2000. ATSDR, in cooperation with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, analyzed mortality statistics for Libby during the 20-year period from 1979-1998.  A review of death certificate data was used to generate a representation of mortality associated with historical asbestos exposure in Libby. In summary, ATSDR reported the following statistics:

  • Highest exposure to asbestos occurred from the 1950’s to the early 1970’s.
  • Asbestosis in Libby is 40 times higher in Libby than what would be expected in Montana.
  • Asbestosis in Libby is 65 times higher in Libby than what would be expected in the United States (US).
  • Mesothelioma is elevated in Libby when compared to the US.
  • Data presented in the ATSDR report collaborates with recent National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reports on Lincoln County as a whole.

Points of Interest

  • The county is working with the Economic Development Council, Inc. to apply for Brownfields money.  The grant application will be out for public review in January.
  • The local hospital has submitted a grant proposal to fund a center for asbestos related diseases.
  • Montana Primary Care will be working with the Libby hospital to apply for a federally funded health program for the hospital.