Environmental regulators are transferring to finish a years-long cleanup alongside dozens of miles of railroad in two northwestern Montana communities the place lung-damaging asbestos from mining has been blamed in tons of of deaths.
The asbestos got here from mining vermiculite that was processed and shipped by rail throughout the nation to be used as insulation, as a gardening soil additive and for different functions.
After 20 years of website investigations and cleanup efforts, the Environmental Safety Company and Montana Division of Environmental High quality are proposing to finish their work at railyards within the cities of Libby and Troy and alongside 42 miles of railroad right-of-way.
The rail line will proceed for use, however proprietor BNSF Railway agreed to handle the realm in a means that can shield human well being, below a 2020 consent decree with federal authorities. That features stopping the disturbance of soil and constructing supplies that also comprise asbestos.
The W.R. Grace-owned vermiculite mine operated till 1990 and left behind a legacy of poisonous mud that well being officers say has killed no less than 400 individuals and sickened hundreds extra. Cleanup work started in 2000 after media reviews spurred federal officers to research widespread well being issues amongst space residents.
Libby Mayor Peggy Williams stated town isn’t having issues now with BNSF’s property, the place topsoil and contaminated constructions have been beforehand eliminated. However she stated residents can nonetheless encounter vermiculite at house, comparable to throughout reconstruction work on homes the place the fabric was used as insulation.
“The one factor that’s lingering, that’s giving us issues, is the vermiculite left behind in residential constructions,” Williams stated.
In all, greater than 2,600 houses, companies and different properties have been cleaned at a value of greater than $600 million. Asbestos cleanup work on the mine itself is ongoing and anticipated to proceed for years.
On the railroad property, soil elimination and different actions have been undertaken on 5 events between 2004 and 2018. Cleanup employees hauled 8,415 cubic yards of soil to a Lincoln County landfill, based on EPA spokesperson Beth Archer. That’s equal to about 800 dump truck masses.
The work price greater than $500,000, paid principally by BNSF, Archer stated.
A ultimate resolution on whether or not take away the property from the EPA’s Superfund listing of hazardous websites is predicted this fall after the general public will get an opportunity to weigh in.
Litigation over W.R. Grace’s asbestos merchandise helped drive the Maryland-based firm into chapter 11 and in 2008 it agreed to pay a $250 million settlement for contamination within the Libby and Troy areas.
Quite a few authorized claims from victims of asbestos publicity within the Libby space are pending towards BNSF, insurance coverage firms and different events.
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