EPA: March 2017 is 'last call' for property cleanup

The Environmental Protection Agency has named March 31, 2017 its “last call” for Libby homeowners to participate in the investigation and remediation process, regional officials announced on Wednesday.

At Wednesday’s Lincoln County Commissioner’s meeting, EPA Region 8 Administrator Shaun McGrath told local officials the March deadline will be the last chance Lincoln County homeowners can ask the EPA to complete an investigation and begin the cleanup process. Once the remaining listed homes are have been investigated, remediated and designated as a “clean property”, McGrath said he expects to be out of Lincoln County by 2017.

“We’re really getting into the end game of the cleanup,” McGrath said. “I think this is a good news story.”

The EPA has spent the last 16 years in Libby after landing in the town that saw more than 400 asbestos exposure-related deaths due to the massive-scale mining of Libby asbestos-contaminated vermiculite in the area. Since the remediation process began, more than 7,600 properties have been investigated, cleaned and deemed clean for current and future homeowners.

Mike Cirian, remedial project manager for the EPA’s Libby office, said about 240 residents have changed their minds in the final stages of the cleanup and opted to invite the agency out to investigate their homes.

“I’m thinking as we get closer to that last date, people are starting to realize it’s real,” Cirian said.

Cirian said there are currently 400 homeowners who have told the EPA they do not want an investigation on their property, but residents still have until July 29 to get their home on the investigation list for 2016. The March 31, 2017 deadline will be the absolute last chance for homeowners to contact the EPA for an investigation.

“The reason for that is it’s looking real good that we can get through a number of homes this summer and do the cleanups that will allow us to get through the remaining ones next summer,” McGrath said. “We could be done on the clean ups by 2017, and to be able to do that, we need to set a last call of March 31 to come out and do the investigation.”

Lincoln County Commissioner Mark Peck said it’s imperative that the EPA stands by that final deadline, so the community may begin a campaign illustrating Libby’s successful cleanup. The commissioners hope to begin that campaign, in collaboration with the EPA, in January 2017.

Peck also said while being stern with it’s new “last call,” it’s important to let homeowners know that inviting the agency to their property is the homeowners choice, not a mandate from the federal government.

McGrath said the EPA won’t force an investigation on any property, but said there are two major downsides to abstaining from an investigation and cleanup.

“Number one, they could be exposed to asbestos right now and we can help identify that,” he said. “That’s important to know.”

The second downside McGrath described is related to the future selling process for homeowners. After the remediation process is completed on a property, the EPA issues the property owner an agency letter, designating the home site clean.

“If you try to sell your home and you don’t have a letter in your file that says we did the investigation and we cleaned it up, then that might have some implications.”

With the final chance to join the cleanup list on the horizon, McGrath said there have been recent accomplishments, such as the revitalization efforts that spawned Riverfront Park and the old screening plant that has been cleared of asbestos exposure. Last year, the EPA issued an air toxicity value report that showed Libby’s air quality had returned to normal levels.

“We were able to say the air in Libby is as clean as the rest of the state,” McGrath said. “That’s an important message, to get past that stigma.”

McGrath also said some projects still remain, such as the Port Authority’s industrial park south of Libby, as well as the state highway corridors on either side of town. McGrath said he expects those projects to be completed by the coming fall.

Peck said getting past that stigma is important not only for the health and safety of the Lincoln County residents, but also for the opportunity of economic development.

“It’s going to take the yoke off this town,” Peck said. “The message is that we’re getting ahead of it. Hopefully the gap between contractors leaving town and people reinvesting in this community is shortened.”

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.