EPA: ‘Libby not safe’
by Duane Williams, KLCB 1230 AM Libby News Radio
Original post December 6, 2009 | Updated December 7, 2009
"Libby is not safe based on current information." Those are the words from the mouth of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Dr. Helen Dawson at Tuesday evening’s EPA public meeting.
The EPA, said Dawson, is using a 1985 study as the general risk assessment. Studies show Libby amphibole to be much more toxic than the 1985 study, which is based on chrysotile asbestos, indicates.
According to both Dawson and Dr. David Berry, the theoretical risk factor threshold is 1 case in 10,000. A factor of 1 in 10,000 requires remedial action by law.
Given the Libby service area population of 14,000 that would mean only one case of asbestos related mesothelioma disease should exist in our population.
There have been 31 cases diagnosed in the Libby area. And that may just be the tip of the iceberg. There are links identifying asbestos exposure with autoimmune disease such as lupus, cardiovascular disease, and throat, larynx, stomach, and colon cancers.
Operational Unit 1, the City’s river front park, has yielded test results of the magic 1 in 10,000 particles.
At the meeting, the EPA admitted they are using outdated methods, measurement criteria, and equipment in assessing what is going on in Libby regarding asbestos; technology not sensitive enough to provide information to provide for public safety.
Concern of the citizens is the EPA pushing to get a Record of Decision in place, fearing it the final word, and the EPA will walk away from Libby.
Dawson said to the contrary, the Record of Decision provides the EPA legal authority to continue clean up activities.
The written public comment period on the Record of Decision for the city’s park and the up river former screening plant owned by the Parkers, ends December 16.
Update Monday, December 7, 2009: Rebecca Thomas of the EPA has announced EPA will be extending the Public Comment period on OU 1 and OU 2 from Dec. 16, 2009 to Jan 16, 2010.
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Story by Duane Williams, KLCB 1230 AM Libby News Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com.
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