EPA has plan to clean up asbestos in Montana town

EPA has plan to clean up asbestos in Montana town

EPA has plan to clean up asbestos in Montana town

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

Officials have devised a plan for the clean up of asbestos at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site in Montana.

The EPA signed a record of decisions document that outlines the plan to rid the area of any potential hazards related to asbestos.
Libby, Montana Asbestos Clean-up

The town of Libby, Montana, was first visited by the EPA in 1999. The area had once been a mining region and residents had become concerned about the risks that asbestos-contaminated vermiculite presented. After a decade of work with the site, it was eventually declared a public health emergency by the agency in June 2009. By October of that year, more than 1,100 properties in residential areas had been cleared of asbestos risks.

The current plan drawn up by the EPA to deal with two properties at the Superfund site includes a combination of soil containment and removal to ensure that the soil-to-air pathway is broken up.
Asbestos Diseases Major Concern for Mining Communities

Asbestos exposure is a major health concern for communities that are near active or dormant mines. Inhalation of asbestos fibers, which are common at many such sites, can lead to the development of serious lung diseases, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
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EPA has plan to clean up asbestos in Montana town