Posted on 06/17/2009 12:11:52 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency for the first time has declared a public health emergency in a contaminated community, targeting a Montana town Wednesday for immediate federal attention.
The declaration by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson involving Libby, Mont., will not result in an evacuation, but will require an extensive cleanup and better health protections for residents with asbestos-related illnesses.
--
Asbestos contamination from a now-closed vermiculite mine near Libby has been cited in the deaths of more than 200 people and illnesses of thousands more.
Jackson said the public health emergency declaration was the first time the EPA has made such a determination under authority of the 1980 Superfund law that requires the clean up of contaminated sites.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Lawyers are being airlifted and parachuting in as we speak.
Where in Montana?
Libby....it’s just at the West entrance to Yellowstone Park....where I worked for 3 months one summer long ago.
Montana, huh? The state with the fed-defying gun legislation? Could this be a federal foot in the door, hmmmmm?
speaking of Yellowstone.. on the ap wire
Man goes over Yellowstone falls, presumed dead
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090617/ap_on_re_us/us_yellowstone_search
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. – Officials in Yellowstone National Park are searching for a man they believe committed suicide by jumping into a river and going over a 300-foot waterfall.
They say the 20-year-old man was last seen Tuesday afternoon jumping over the railing at an observation platform at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
Great, another CRISIS for Obama.
It’s only his fifth month too. he’s had oodles of ‘em ..
Then I have been there, that country is fabulous, so sorry they are having all this trouble.
Would that be 2nd Barrister Battalion of the 82nd Chairborne from Huy, Fleesum and Howe?
Here's my shot of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park. The location is Artist Point on the east side of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It is 308 feet. The Upper Falls is a paltry 109 feet drop.
Here is my shot of the Yellowstone River a few miles upstream from the falls in Hayden Valley. The small dots are very big buffalo grazing.
Pretty country.
I have some relatives in the Great Falls and Helena area.
***Great, another CRISIS for Obama.***
This calls for an ASBESTOS CZAR!
“So let it be written! So let it be done!”-—Pharoh
Just another well adjusted Obama voter. Kool Aid on Fruit Loops is a bad combination. At least he did not try to pet the buffalo.
Love the photos. I visited the area three years ago and want to visit again soon.
How long has this mine been closed? How long has there been suspicion that there was a major problem? So what triggered this sudden emergency announcement?
http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/libby/background.html
Libby History
Gold miners discovered vermiculite in Libby in 1881; in the 1920s the Zonolite Company formed and began mining the vermiculite. In 1963, W.R. Grace bought the Zonolite mining operations. The mine closed in 1990.
a little background on asbestos and vermiculite.
http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/insulation.html
Is vermiculite insulation a problem?
Prior to its close in 1990, much of the world’s supply of vermiculite came from a mine near Libby, Montana. This mine had a natural deposit of asbestos which resulted in the vermiculite being contaminated with asbestos. Attic insulation produced using vermiculite ore, particularly ore that originated from the Libby mine, may contain asbestos fibers. Today, vermiculite is mined at three US Facilities and in other countries which have low levels of contamination in the finished material.
Libby is in the Northwestern part of Montana, north of Missoula not far from Glacier Park. Lived in Montana for 10 years and spent a lot of time in the NW mountains. Backpacked the Bob Marshall. Beautiful country.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.