EPA will use soil excavation and containment for Libby asbestos
Libby, Montana was home to a vermiculite mine and two processing plants for over 70 years, beginning in the early 1900s. The vermiculite ore contained tremolite asbestos fibers, and by the time the mine and the plants closed in 1990, the area was so contaminated with asbestos that residents of Libby are up to 80 times more likely to die from asbestosis than the national average. Libby residents also have a high incidence of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.
Ten years ago, the Libby Asbestos Site was added to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund list and began cleanup, but it is a massive undertaking. In May, officials discussed new plans to deal with the problem, which will involve excavating contaminated soil and replacing it with fresh, uncontaminated soil to cap it off and make the grounds of the old W.R. Grace Export and Screening plants safe for future use.
For the full story, go to Flathead Beacon.
