Asbestos crisis not in the past yet

Dealing with the aftermath of asbestos poisoning in Libby is something that isn’t going away any time soon.

For 15 years since the extent of asbestos contamination from the W.R. Grace & Co. vermiculite mine was exposed under a national spotlight, Libby area residents have been living with a new reality that has sickened or killed family members and friends. It has brought cleanup workers in hazardous-material suits into their homes to suck out the toxic dust. It has meant an uncertain future on many levels.

Many are weary. Lincoln County Commissioner-elect Mark Peck calls it “Superfund fatigue.”

Perhaps the most troubling element of Libby’s asbestos saga is that after 15 years and more than $400 million worth of cleanup, folks still don’t know just how toxic the dust is from Libby’s unique amphibole asbestos. Hopefully they’ll have an answer very soon.

A long-awaited report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that defines toxicity values for Libby asbestos is expected to be released sometime this month. At least that’s the promise.

There’s a lot riding on those toxicity values in terms of how cleanup will be handled from here on out. Peck is right when he says all eyes are on that crucial report. Grace, as expected, is questioning the methodology of the toxicity assessment.

Amid the ongoing cleanup and heath-care needs of the thousands of patients with asbestos-related disease, there are bright spots in Libby.

Dr. Brad Black, director of the Center for Asbestos Related Disease, or CARD Clinic in Libby, has been involved in asbestos research and has hypothesized that a certain facet of asbestos disease could be a mechanism of an autoimmune reaction and perhaps could be successfully treated.

The Lincoln County Asbestos Resource Program, started two years ago to reduce Libby area residents’ exposure to asbestos, is doing a nice job of educating the public and giving people the tools they need to manage risk.

Lincoln County’s economy has been challenged in recent years, but the Libby Chamber of Commerce reports an upswing in tourism and some rebounding within the business community.

Former U.S. Sen. Max Baucus was a driving force behind getting help for Libby asbestos victims. Incoming Sen. Steve Daines has pledged to keep Libby on the front burner.

As Libby continues to deal with the asbestos aftermath, it’s important our congressional delegation keeps its eyes on Libby as the toxicity report is released and the community hopefully, and finally, can move forward to a genuine cleanup solution.