Asbestos advisory team meets Thursday in Libby

The Libby Asbestos Superfund Advisory Team, outlined in Senate Bill 315 and signed into law by Gov. Steve Bullock last May, will hold its fourth meeting — its second in Libby — on Thursday.

The meeting starts 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers in the Lincoln County Courthouse at 512 California Ave.

Sen. Chas Vincent (R-Libby) sponsored Senate Bill 315, which created the advisory team, a trust fund and an operation and maintenance account and a liaison, among other items related to the cleanup of the Libby Asbestos Superfund site. The team is required by law to meet quarterly and first met Sept. 21, 2017.

The team is comprised of Montana DEQ Director Tom Livers; Lincoln County Commissioner Mark Peck; Rep. Steve Gunderson (Montana District 1); Vincent; and Lincoln County citizen George Jamison.

Yet to be filled is the position of a liaison, a DEQ employee who will serve as staff to the advisory team and be based in Libby. A candidate recently offered the job turned it down when a request for $10,000 more in pay could not be met, so the search continues.

Recruitment of the liaison is on Thursday’s agenda. Other topics include budget items, operations and maintenance planning and public comment. The agenda and other information can be viewed at deq.mt.gov/DEQAdmin/dir/libby/SATeam.

People interested in attending the meeting remotely can call toll-free at 833-821-3112 and enter the conference number of 9288972, or attend via Skype at rtchelena.mt.gov/meet/karen.ogden/1B2JJ60Q.

The bulk of the previous meeting on March 8 comprised a status update from the Institutional Controls Steering Committee, an advisory body to the City-County Board of Health.