Commissioners OK concept of ERS, too

BY ROGER MORRIS Western News Publisher

Cautious Lincoln County Commissioners agreed Wednesday afternoon to provide a letter of support for the "concept" of the environmental resource specialist position, which would deal with vermiculite-asbestos issues after the EPA has completed its Superfund cleanup.

Commissioners expressed concerns with financial obligations and creation of county ordinances and building inspections where none presently exist.

A handful of Libby Area Technical Assistance group members and EPA representative Peggy Churchill said the duties and authority of the ERS have not been fleshed out but the federal agency has expressed willingness to fund the position. LATAG members would like to see the specialist become part of the city or county staffs.

"We see the need as imminent — now," said Helen Clarke, LATAG member. But Clarke doesn't see the creation of the position as coming overnight because of all the details that have to be hammered out between the city, county, EPA, LATAG, Montana Department of Environmental Quality — who is responsible for the Troy cleanup, and the EPA's operations and maintenance committee. "The EPA has said if we can speak with one voice they will fund the position."

LATAG is starting with getting the various agencies and elected boards to agree the concept is worth pursuing, Clarke said.

"We don't know if it's full time or part time or whether a back-up position is needed yet," she said. "There's a lot to consider and we don't have all the answers."

Churchill said the need for the services will run for years after the EPA completes the Superfund cleanup of asbestos-tainted vermiculite. The idea is to avoid what recently happened at Country Pizza, she said.

The owner of the building housing the restaurant decided to remodel the structure. When he found out the EPA couldn't clean the asbestos-contaminated vermiculite until spring, he went ahead with work anyway contaminating the restaurant downstairs with vermiculite dust.

"Our concern is for the health and safety of people in Lincoln County," said Jan Meadows, also a member of the LATAG. "We need to educate the community. We don't want to contaminate our clean homes and health any more than they have been already. If your educated and trained, and have the proper tools, you can proceed."

It's a health issue, Meadows said.

The EPA is presently cleaning Zonolite Attic Insulation from attic spaces but not from walls, and they are removing outside garden and lawn areas contaminated with the asbestos-tainted vermiculite to a certain depth.

Abe Troyer, also a LATAG member, and who has worked on the Superfund cleanup, said it was important for an experienced person to be able to inform homeowners how to proceed with work on their homes and out-buildings without re-contaminating property that has been cleaned.

"The big question is would we be looking at a request to develop ordinances and enforcement issues such as a county-issue building permit?" asked Commissioner Rita Windom.

"That troubles me that people would think there would be a thick book of regulations," Churchill said. "We want people to be able to work on their own homes; there is a balance there. This is an information and education position."

Clarke said, "We're thinking about a campaign like "Before you dig, call us.'"

Local contractor D.C. Orr said he thought the position is necessary.

"Since the state is on the hook for 10 percent of the (cleanup) program, why not approach the state on this?" he asked.

"That's possible," Clarke replied.

Commissioner Marianne Roose, concerned about the county getting stuck with operational costs of the ERS position, said the state might be a better place for the position. She called the ERS a "valuable resource for the community to turn to."

Commissioner John Konzen echoed concerns for the liability of the position but moved that the county write a letter of support for the "concept" of the environmental resource specialist position.

"I think there are a lot of questions that will come from the public that will have to be answered," Roose said.

All three commissioners voted to provide the letter supporting the concept.

In related business, Churchill provided commissioners with an update on EPA activities.

She said cleanup activities are shutdown for the winter and the agency is working primarily on compiling reports that will support the cleanup plan to be presented during late winter or early spring for public comment.

The agency has begun discussing another Dream It, Do It session in the spring.

"I'm going to need to get your input on that," Churchill said. "Maybe look at the port's plans for the old mill site."

Also, the EPA is planning on conducting a contractor training at the end of January at the Lincoln County Campus of Flathead Valley Community College. It would be an 8-day course and include certification. Individuals could pursue accreditation on their own, she said.