Area residents respond to EPA announcement
The Environmental Protection Agency made a splash in Libby last week with the release of the long-awaited toxicity values and human health risk assessment.
The reaction of state and local officials was predominately positive, mixed with cautious optimism and some apathy.
“How clean is clean? How safe is safe? These are questions we’ve been asking for years and now we have answers,” he said. “It’s time to take this information and use it to market Libby and southern Lincoln County.”
State Rep. Mike Cuffe was direct, but positive. “I appreciate that they finally got the numbers. It’s about darn time.”
“It’s encouraging that the air in Libby is cleaner than it is in Helena,” joked outgoing county commissioner Tony Berget while speaking with Montana Department of Environmental Quality and EPA representatives at Wednesday’s commissioners’ meeting. “Now can we compare it to EPA headquarters in Denver?”
Nick Raines, program manager for Lincoln County’s Asbestos Resource Program, was encouraged by the news. “Both reports being released is a huge milestone. This answers questions that have been asked for a very long time.”
Raines also praised the content of the reports. “I’m encouraged by the quality of the science and the data. The cleanup conducted has been proven to be effective at limiting exposure.”
Others, however, tempered that optimism with notes of caution.
Montana Sen. John Tester issued a statement immediately following the release of the health assessment: “Folks in Libby and Troy have spent years – and many have died – waiting to find out what will happen to their homes and community. While local residents are not out of the woods yet, today’s report shows that the cleanup effort is working and many homes and schools are safe for families and children.”
“People need to know that this thing isn’t over,” commissioner-elect Mark Peck said. “This is great news and it’s a huge step forward, but we’re not done yet.”
“I think it’s a good first step. We have a few other steps we need to take before we size up what the end looks like,” Montana State Sen. Chas Vincent said.
Mel Parker is one of many Libby residents who initially refused EPA investigation and cleanup of their property. With the announcement, though, he is ready to move forward. “Now we can have our properties cleaned up because the risk assessment is done and the EPA is responsible for guaranteeing that it’s clean,” he said.
Kris Erickson, who has been personally dealing with asbestos-related diseases for years, was also cautiously optimistic. “If the findings are correct, we’ve gained and that’s a good thing,” she said. The question that remains is the accuracy of the science. “They signed us off and said it was safe, but who knows?”
Parker expressed some concern about the science as well, primarily with regard to the technical nature of the 1,000-plus pages of data. “I’m not an expert, I rely on others for expertise. I had hoped for a better summary, instead of a huge technical report. Just thumbing through it, though, I feel more comfortable because of the involvement of the outside Science Advisory Board.”
For many, though, the news was just another day in Libby. “It’s been a hassle for so long, you’re almost numb to it,” Jay Riddle said. Many other Libby residents who wished to remain anonymous echoed Riddle’s sentiment.