Libby, Montana; The Asbestos Capital of the World

Libby, Montana population 2,626 and dropping. Libby is largely supported by the use of natural resources of logging and mining. Mining as in that of vermiculite. Vermiculite is used for high temperature insulation. It is also known to cause asbestos poisoning. Prior to logging, it was the number one source of employment in the town of Libby.

Government investigators have found that 274 deaths can be attributed to asbestos from the mine. They also found that 1 in 5 suffer from illness, related to the same problem. Since May of 2000, the EPA has spent $120 million in cleanup.

On June 17, 2009, the EPA declared it's first public health emergency. The emergency covers both Libby and nearby Troy, Montana. It will provide an extra 130 million dollars for cleanup and medical assistance. This shows how serious the EPA takes the environment of Libby. Senators Baucus and Tester have fought hard to bring awareness to the problem in Libby. Although the Libby asbestos situation have been in the sights of the EPA, not much action was taken.

While the EPA has worked through the years to clean up the asbestos, the health related problem has still remained. Amphibole Asbestos still remains a threat throughout the area. It is one of the leading causes of Lung Cancer. The Libby mine, which closed in 1990, provided over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the United States.

The dust not only spread by air, but it was used for driveways and roads, gardens, and playgrounds. No matter, which way residents turned, they were exposed to this deadly toxin. For years, nobody knew for sure why here were deaths and increase in illnesses. It was always suspected, but not known for sure.

Through the years, the dust would drift through the valley and settle on the tops of cars and homes. Individuals that worked outside were exposed to it on a daily basis. It took a new administrator of the EPA Lisa Jackson and the two Senators to get financial assistance to the community.