The Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed an asbestos cleanup standard for Libby, Montana, that is far stricter than any other standard to date. Asbestos dust has killed hundreds of people in the 3,000-person town, which lies about 40 miles south of the Canadian border. According to the Associated Press, “airborne asbestos concentrations exceeding two-100,000ths of a fiber per cubic centimeter” is a health risk under the proposed standard, which is “5,000 times tougher than the standard used in past cleanups.”
Maryland-based chemical company W.R. Grace mined vermiculite just outside of town for decades. The asbestos dust in Libby reportedly came from the mine itself as well as processing plants along the Kootenai River. According to the Associated Press, Superfund cleanup efforts in Libby have cost at least $447 million since 1999 and are expected to continue for several more years. Superfund is the federal government’s program to clean up uncontrolled hazardous waste sites around the country.
W.R. Grace has objected to the EPA’s proposed standard, claiming it could prompt costly cleanup at sites across the country. According to the Associated Press, manufacturing and trade groups, as well as the White House Office of Management and Budget, have also raised concerns about the proposed standard, as it falls “below even background asbestos levels seen in some parts of the country.”
Asbestos exposure is known to cause several types of cancer and other serious health problems. In fact, most cases of mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of cancer that kills an estimated 3,000 people annually in the United States are a result of asbestos exposure. A mesothelioma attorney helps victims of asbestos exposure stand up for their legal rights. If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, an experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you get the compensation you need and deserve.
According to the Associated Press, U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester urged the EPA in mid-October to move forward with its proposed standard, saying, “residents of Libby have grown frustrated waiting for a pending risk study to be completed.” The EPA is expected to make a final decision sometime next year.
If you or your family member has been harmed by asbestos exposure, contact an asbestos attorney today. You may be entitled to compensation, and a qualified asbestos lawyer can help you fight to get it.