Public Health Emergency in Northwestern Montana

This article was recently submitted to the Amherst Health Department as a public service, and we are reproducing it here for our readers' edification and education.

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The small mountain town of Libby, Montana was the world’s main supplier of vermiculite for about 70 years. Vermiculite is an ore that is mined for use in products like insulation, potting soil and packing material. The town of Libby was an ideal place for mining as it is home to the largest natural deposit of vermiculite in the world. Little did the residents of Libby know that the hazy smoke they had become so accustomed to seeing all over town was contaminated with toxic tremolite asbestos.

Exposure to tremolite asbestos has been identified as the main cause of a rare and deadly form of cancer known as malignant mesothelioma. This type of cancer is particularly difficult to treat because it has a latency period of about 20 to 50 years. By the time noticeable symptoms begin showing and a mesothelioma diagnosis is made, it is typically in advanced stages and treatment options are limited.

The mine was officially closed in 1990, but an increasing rate of asbestos-related illnesses in the town prompted an investigation by the EPA that began in 1999. However, it wasn’t until this year that an official public health emergency was declared in Libby and the neighboring town of Troy. Before she took office, new EPA administrator Lisa Jackson promised she would look into the situation in Libby if she was appointed.

“This is a tragic public health situation that has not received the recognition it deserves by the federal government for far too long. We’re making a long-delayed commitment to the people of Libby and Troy. Based on a rigorous re-evaluation of the situation on the ground, we will continue to move aggressively on the cleanup efforts and protect the health of the people,” said Jackson.

The government will spend more than $130 million on asbestos cleanup efforts and improve the health care system for those with asbestos-related illnesses. Approximately $125 million will come from the EPA over the next five years to clean up both Libby and Troy, a nearby town of about 1,000 people. An additional $6 million will be spent by the Health and Human Services Department (HSS) on medical assistance.