EPA will do more testing on Libby area wood chips
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
July 25, 2011
Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus has secured a commitment from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it will conduct additional testing to determine whether wood chips distributed widely in Libby and beyond pose a health risk. The commitment comes in response to Baucus’ July 6th inquiry after reports indicated the wood chips could be contaminated with asbestos.
Baucus said he will be watching to make sure the tests are performed thoroughly and transparently, to hold EPA’s feet to the fire and make sure their response is up to par.
In a letter to Baucus, EPA’s Regional Administrator committed to perform activity based sampling specific to Libby homeowners who’ve been exposed to the bark. This testing is in addition to earlier tests performed only on mill site workers; reanalyze wood chips samples with a new methodology that can quantify the asbestos fibers found. Earlier tests were inconclusive as to the level of asbestos present in the wood chips; and conduct toxicology assessments for both cancer and non-cancer health effects. EPA will use these results to complete a thorough risk assessment and determine a plan for handling the wood chips moving forward.
Baucus met with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson earlier this month to discuss the issue face-to-face. Baucus and his staff will continue to press EPA for all documentation related to the wood chips and comb through the materials carefully to help find answers for the people of Libby.
Baucus has been a long-time champion of asbestos awareness in his efforts to declare the mining tragedy in Lincoln County a public health emergency and make sure folks there have access to the clean-up tools they need. Baucus included three provisions in the Affordable Care Act to ensure asbestos victims in Libby have access to the health care they are entitled to as residents of a public disaster emergency site.
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Story by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com e-mail:klcb@frontiernet.net.
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