W.R. Grace cleanup in Ellwood City, PA halted for season

Dec 8, 2008

The EPA has halted cleanup operations for the season at W.R. Grace’s former vermiculite manufacturing facility in the 1400 block of Factory Avenue in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. The cleanup will restart in the spring as weather permits. This fall, crews removed asbestos-contaminated soil from the hillside behind the Ellwood City Moose Hall and spread 2,600 tons of fresh soil a foot deep over the area. The EPA is looking for a safe way to dispose of the contaminated soil and vegetation that’s been removed from the site.

The facility processed vermiculite from W.R. Grace’s vermiculite mine located in Libby, Montana. Vermiculite processing involves heating the ore until it “pops” or expands into a form used for insulation. The vermiculite mined in Libby, however, was contaminated with asbestos, which is the source of the asbestos contamination at the Ellwood City plant. Asbestos exposure has caused widespread disease in the town of Libby, where hundreds have developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

For the full story, go to the TimesOnline.com.

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