Libby's Superfund sites among sites on EPA's redevelopment focus list

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named the Libby Asbestos Superfund and Libby Groundwater Superfund sites among 31 current and former Superfund National Priorities List sites with the greatest expected redevelopment and commercial potential.

EPA’s redevelopment focus list includes the Former Stimson Lumber Mill. The EPA is working with the Lincoln County Port Authority and International Paper to support an ongoing redevelopment planning project for the area. The site is part of the Kootenai Business Park and is zoned for commercial and industrial redevelopment, as well as recreation.

“We are pleased that EPA has identified the Libby Asbestos Superfund site as one of the 31 sites with the greatest expected redevelopment and commercial potential,” said Tina Oliphant, executive director of the Lincoln County Port Authoirty, via email. “We are looking forward to continued work and use of the resources EPA brings to this list.”

EPA placed the Libby Asbestos site on the Superfund NPL in 2002 and implemented extensive cleanup actions at the Former Stimson Lumber Mill site. The Libby Groundwater site was placed on the Superfund NPL in 1983. From 1946 to 2003, several companies operated wood-treating facilities at the property and vermiculite mined from Libby was found to be contaminated with Libby amphibole asbestos. The use or transportation of vermiculite products at the site resulted in contamination of soil, debris and structures. Additionally, spills and disposal practices from the wood treating operations contaminated soil, groundwater, surface water and sediment with hazardous chemicals.