Former nursery owners still waiting to get land back

LIBBY - It's been five years since Mel and Lerah Parker were moved off their land and forced to abandon a thriving nursery business.

They're still waiting to return.

They're also waiting for answers about why it's taken the federal government so long to sign off on this particular cleanup site.

"They promised to give us the land back, and we thought we'd get the notice of availability last fall," said Mel Parker, who is recovering from recent heart surgery. "If they're looking for a clean piece of ground, it's clean, clear down to 12 feet."

Excavation at the 21-acre site was deep and wide, the first big project tackled by the Environmental Protection Agency after it set up quarters in Libby in early 2000.

The Parkers operated the expansive Raintree Nursery along the Kootenai River on the site where W.R. Grace screened and loaded vermiculite ore from its Libby mine. Federal officials rushed in after news of the Libby asbestos crisis hit the national media in late 1999.

Thousands of seedlings and plants were condemned, along with the Parkers' Reishi mushroom farm, their home and household furnishings.

EPA project manager Jim Christiansen said he understands the Parkers' frustration and expects to finish the reclamation next summer.

"The Parkers want us to finish all of the restoration we committed to, and we're about 95 percent finished," he said. "We intend to finish it."

Christiansen cited problems with an irrigation system installed a few months ago that began leaking. It needs to be fixed, but it's too late in the season. Some weed problems also need to be overcome.

Meanwhile, the Parkers are living in a home overlooking the Kootenai River.

"There are a lot of things being said in town. People say we must have it pretty good, living up here on Snob Knob," Lerah Parker said. "They think the EPA or Grace bought the house for us, but that's not true."

The Parkers haven't gotten any compensation from Grace, but were reimbursed by the EPA for their business equipment, buildings and personal belongings.

"Nothing was ever given to us on that property," Mel Parker said. "A value was established and paid," but it wasn't near the full value.

They're also waiting for the cleanup of a separate five-acre piece of their property across the highway from the nursery site. When the EPA approached them about putting the five-acre cleanup on hold until more Superfund money became available, the Parkers agreed.

They hope it will be cleaned next spring.

While city leaders are encouraged by the cleanup efforts and health-care programs that are now in place in Libby, the Parkers have their own take on the situation.

"It's been a sad five years for Libby," Lerah Parker said. "If the town had been on board, we could've had some positives, but the town pulled itself apart. Some still don't believe there's a problem."

The couple knows they've been exposed to the toxic asbestos fibers. They'd rather not know if they've got asbestosis.

"We haven't even addressed the health issue," she said. "What does it matter?"

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com