Libby Montana: EPA Ordered Cleanup and Intervention is Dramatic 180 Degree Turn in Policy

It's reasonable to fear overreach by these people, with a "revived" EPA as well as with other departments in the federal government, but this certainly is interesting news. An EPA actually is working on behalf of the environment (and of Americans living in that environment) -- that is the least we know now.

And I used to think my environmental reserves were redundant.

I have relatives living in Libby, MT. The original clinic that was set up to deal with this problem has been systematically disbanded over the last 10 years. After visiting within the shops and seeing and hearing the wheezing, rasping coughs, and asthma gasps I hope that this EPA revisiting the problem will give a bit of comfort to the dying-slowly. It is a very grim state of affairs.

(The mine is posted and roped off for about a 5 - 10 mile distance around the perimeters. However, the loading dock areas, near the RR and River are not, with public accesses built within those places- still lined with visible rocks.) The citizens are reluctant to speak out because the mine was their work place and provider of revenues to grow their families and maintain their homes.

Here in Minnesota, we-the citizens of NE Minneapolis, were the recepients of the raw asbestos products shipped from Libby,MT. in train cars---into the neighborhood to the WR Grace plant, that processed the asbestos- Edison High school is 1 1/2 blks away, and many also were exposed to the particulate matters and residues.............. this is still the best kept secret here.

Many of us and our relatives struggle daily with "asthma" and respitory problems. The clinics and doctors here are not seemingly aware enough to diagnose these ailments.There have been many public meetings, with few attendees, and the clinics have refused to review the 15 minute program that the Health Department specially prepared for them that informed health care professionals about the latent asbestos problems.

Many homes and yards have been resting places for the "Free Fill" of byproduct asbestos laden rocks, with EPA intervention, those that requested help were assisted with the cleanups.

The remaining problem here..... is the exceedingly long term exposures that still prevail to vulnerable residents-(from the 1930's -1980's). Many are still not aware or in denial of this problem. My own father died of "pneumonia"-until his autopsy report was re-read and changed to "lung cancer" with plaqueing (mesothelioma) and re-reported. He lived in NE, attended Edison High School, and was not aware of the particulate matter in the air at school that he breathed in daily. My own children also attended schools in the NE area, ran track on and practiced with the Edison Marching band on the athletic field that was lined with this "Free Fill". The floors of the school in the basement areas had also been lined with the "Free Fill". All suffer with asthma and respirtory problems.

There is no free clinic help here for diagnosis or evaluation; (and if there was, it's hard to live with a long term suffering sentence over one's head). The daily regimen of respiratory prescriptions is very expensive and WR Grace should be picking up the tab on this also for the many coping with ongoing issues.

The EPA has been here briefly, and now has gone on to treat the next problem-of arsenic laden soils in S Minneapolis-from a pesticide producing plant. Sadly the asbestos problem is still grimly reaping more lungs and productive lives. It's time for a revisit.


(by the way----the box cars that brought the asbestos into NE Minneapolis were returned back to Libby, MT. filled with grain-------asbestos can also damage stomachs, intestines, body cavity linings as well--so the problem is more insidious than can be imagined- and those of us remembering our "Punch & Grow" flower and tomato kits-filled with vermiculite soil-by Northrup King Co-also local company may have something to reconsider when coping with our asthma, emphysema, and coughs).

"Thus, Obama Admin’s EPA announcing Libby Montana as ‘a public health emergency’ is unheard of."

This should be simply _unheard_ and unconceived-of in an intelligently, responsibly run nation.

How long will it be until the "public health" misapplication of the term toward gun violence in an attempt to rationalize gun control among the gullible re-occurs?

@Minneapolis........... WRGrace (in its prior corporate formation) is bankrupt but had insurance coverage with the big time insurers...most all still around. If you have any neighbors that have meso symptoms, have them get the diagnosis record and contact the Minnesota Dept of Insurance to find out who were the insurance companies providing the primary GL coverage to Grace back in the day. Call those insurance companies directly, do not contact lawyers. For confirmed injuries beyond plural thickening, insurers will readily step up to the plate. They will fight the John Edwards of the world tooth and nail (because they keep 40% of the money), but they will write injured workers checks directly almost on the spot and pick up all further medical.

This articles claims the native Americans through their voice.. This appears to be at the beginning with the secret sterilizations of Native Americans with poor whites who are all led to approach counters behind which were no lead shields, but rather wide open radiation machines...
mediation Phoenix

I read your blog most every day, but this post caught my attention more than usual. I went Flickr site, joined the pedal board group, and enjoyed looking through some of their photos.
Then I came back here to comment.
If your goal is indeed conversation, you're damned good at it.

I like the way you put it . I agree firmly with all the points you've put