EPA wraps 2013 cleanup

The EPA’s 12th year of cleanups resulted in 101 newly cleaned properties in Libby and Troy. Originally planning to clean 80 properties, the agency exceeded its projection by 21 properties.

“Both of our removal contracts were on time, under budget and met our goals,” Mike Cirian, onsite remedial project manager, said. “We also conducted more than 700 initial screening investigations.”

Cirian said his teams this year cleaned up more large properties than in years past, including two trailer parks. Last year, the EPA cleaned 175 properties.

Of specific interest to Cirian this year was the quality of the replacement soil his agency placed on properties. For the first time, an agronomist consulted property owners on ways to maintain and improve their new lawns. Cirian attributes this added help as a reason cleanup property callbacks were down 38 percent from last year.

“The implementation of our quality assurance and quality control have gotten our crews to the point where they want to be inspected,” Cirian said.

While the 101 cleanups is the lowest number since they began in 2002, there remains no timetable for the EPA putting a wrap on its cleanup project.

“We still have over 1,100 properties in need of initial screening investigations,” Cirian said. “We also have somewhere between 300 and 400 samples in the screening process. Those results will help determine next year’s cleanup numbers.”

The same can be said about three studies set to be published in 2014. A toxicology assessment of Libby amphibole asbestos, risk assessment and feasibility study will determine how much asbestos can be left behind by the agency. The toxicology report is due for June 2014. The risk assessment is expected near the end of next year.