CAG seeks community involvment with 2008 EPA budget allocation

Editor's Note: This is the last of a four part series looking into the Project Matrix developed by Paul

Peronard, EPA's Region 8 Team Leader, to inform the community of the decisions that must be made as the 2008

Superfund is budgeted for cleanups.

A community meeting will be held on Jan. 10, at the School District Little Theatre. Paul Peronard, EPA's region 8 Team Leader will present the 2008 work plan related to Libby and solicit public comments about the plan. An explanation of the work plan and a form for community member comments will be circulated in the community prior to the meeting.

Stephen Johnson, administrator of the EPA agency, visited Libby this past summer and he said in a public meeting that Libby is a top priority for the agency. However, the EPA which has a federal budget of more than $7 billion, will appropriate $17 million for Libby's Superfund budget in 2008. The same amount as the previous six years.

Seventeen million dollars is a lot of money, but according to Peronard, it is not enough to address all of the cleanup needs for 2008. He is being asked to decide which project has priority, or which project can wait. Peronard is reluctant to make those decisions alone and is asking for input from the community.

There are 160 properties in Libby with a complete exposure pathway and that exposure is most of the year. The ability to reduce the risk is thought to be good, although activity based sampling is incomplete and issues remain with residuals left in walls, crawl spaces and carpets.

Some creeks in the area have complete exposure pathways, but mostly in the summer months. While warning signs and cover provide notice and limited protection, they also discourage visitors and may effect economic development. Removal would greatly minimize if not eliminate the potential for exposure.

The Cabinet View Country Club has vermiculite in the greens and tee boxes of the original nine holes. Activity bases sampling shows that mowers have exposure and it is likely golfers do too. Jobs, recreational benefits and the economic draw of out of town users are all issues. Interim measures, short of asking the CVCC to close the 9 holes, would be ineffective.

Some Troy properties have higher potential for exposure than those in Libby.

Prioritization of the cleanup projects takes into consideration a number of variables. Risk is determined by the intensity of the exposure, the duration of exposure, the frequency of exposure and who is exposed (e.g. kids, workers). How the community uses an area may be considered in prioritizing cleanup. How many individuals use the area and how often? Is the visibility/image and the way of life impacted? Does it impact the family or individuals?

What is the economic impact on medical conditions? Are children involved? What is the value of the area and the number of jobs impacted? How about the revenue stream and the tourist draw? What is the impact on financial transactions, such as the cleanup costs? What are the total cash needs? How is the cost versus the risk reduction determined?

What is the ability to reduce the risk? Can the risk be eliminated or reduced or can it be managed? What is the overall feasibility of the plan?

While there are many reasons why the community needs to know about how EPA budget allocations are made next year, there is concern among CAG members that asking the public to comment on the division of an inadequate amount of money will resurrect old divisive issues in the community. There are those who ask if the allotment of limited resources for cleanup is based on economics instead of risk, why bother with risk assessments. Other CAG members wonder if the public will have enough information and understanding to contribute meaningful advice about budget priorities. Lincoln County Commissioner Rita Windom said that although she understands the desire to get the project and budget information out through the media, such as the newspapers, the public will not likely read an article long enough to explain the projects, risks and costs.

Mr. Johnson, in assuring the community of Libby that they are the number one priority of the EPA Superfund program, may need to resurrect the now defunct Living With Vermiculite brochure for those individuals in Libby who are expected to live with vermiculite for another year because they were not one of the chosen few.