Grace’s mesothelioma victims will get ear of EPA nominee Lisa Jackson
With the new administration comes new hope for the people of Libby, Montana. Montana Senator Max Baucus has long promised his support and has fought to get Libby residents the help they need. Now, President Obama’s nominee to head the EPA, Lisa Jackson, has promised to give her attention to Libby if she takes the agency’s helm.
Ms. Jackson has accepted Senator Baucus’ invitation to visit Libby to talk to the town’s residents and find out for herself what has been done—and what remains to be done—to deal with the asbestos contamination there. Ms. Jackson has also promised that she would reconsider the EPA’s refusal to designate Libby a public health emergency.
Shortly before former EPA administrator Christine Todd Whitman resigned her post, she supported the public health emergency declaration for Libby. But a meeting with the Office of Management and Budget put an end to the request at that time. Those involved are well aware that political and budgetary considerations can stymie good intentions.
Read the full story in The Western News.
